Although those in the audition stage of American Idol seem to be televised mainly so viewers and judges can ridicule them, we often forget the impact criticism can have – sometimes with deadly results.
Police announced on Wednesday that Season 5 contestant Paula Goodspeed was found dead in a car outside judge Paula Abdul’s house, reports The Associated Press.
In her audition, Goodspeed performed “Proud Mary” to the disdain of judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, and combined with Goodspeed’s hero Abdul, the three rejected her for the competition.
Goodspeed possibly committed suicide, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. No official cause of death has yet been determined.
Authorities found Goodspeed’s body Tuesday night in a car. Her parents had reported her missing hours earlier and told authorities they were afraid she might hurt herself.
Julianne Sohn, a Los Angeles police spokesperson, told press that officers responded to a call about 6 p.m. Tuesday and arrived in the Sherman Oaks area to find the body.
The car’s vanity license plate read “ABL LV” (Abdul love?) in a Los Angeles Lakers frame. The frame is notable since Abdul got her start as an L.A. Lakers cheerleader.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday,” Abdul said in a statement from her publicist, Jeff Ballard. “My heart and prayers go out to her family.”
On the show, Goodspeed said she had created life-size paintings of Abdul and said she was “beautiful.” Cowell, ever a man ready with an insult on the show, made fun of Goodspeed’s braces. Months after the episode hit the air, bloggers lambasted Goodspeed’s looks, which she noted in a MySpace posting.
American Idol producer Fremantle Media North America declined comment.
Thoughts? melissa@tvguide.ca
Paula Goodspeed's Idol audition:
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