Confirming previous reports, ABC announced Monday that it will air Fallen Idol, a special standalone Primetime Live "expose" about Fox's smash hit American Idol phenomenon, on Wednesday, May 4 at 10PM ET/PT.
ADVERTISEMENT
Exploring what ABC News terms "explosive claims" about the American Idol's "behind-the-scenes activities," the broadcast will feature reporting by Primetime Live co-anchor John Quiqones.
While ABC has declined to reveal any specifics about the broadcast's content, despite the program's title, it would appear to have little to do with the career collapses of one-time American Idol finalists like original Idol runner-up Justin Guarini. Instead, Daily Variety has reported that its sources have said that Primetime Live has been investigating "whether any of the judges involved in the show may have had contact with contestants outside the context of the series, and whether that might have impacted judging."
Earlier this month, New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams reported that Corey Clark, an American Idol 2 finalist who was disqualified from the competition for falling to disclose his pending battery charges, was attempting to sell a book proposal to publishers. In addition to featuring such insight as calling Justin "a cheeseball," Clay Aiken "a geek," and describing "infighting" among the finalists, the book's sample chapters (read by Adams) reportedly contain detailed first-hand descriptions of judge Paula Abdul's Studio City home and mentions of "wild, drunken sex" (although the Post report left it unclear who was having sex and where it was occurring.)
Last week, the Globe supermarket tabloid added to the report, alleging that the 24-year-old Corey is claiming that he had a "secret affair" with the increasingly troubled 42-year-old American Idol judge. According to a MSNBC.com gossip column summary of the Globe article, Corey reportedly alleges that the two had sex in the guest room of her house, that Paula "paid some of his expenses and promised to fund his career to the tune of $2 million," and that she made him vow to not speak of their relationship.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Globe article also reportedly states that Corey claims that Justin also "bragged about having an affair with Paula," however Justin has denied that the two were ever involved.