RYAN SEACREST SHOCKED ON PAULA ABDUL

Ryan Seacrest is insisting co-star Paula Abdul's decision to quit American Idol is not a publicity stunt. Paula has left the show for real. Seacrest responded to Abdul's shocking decision on the chat Web site Twitter.com overnight and addressed the reports on his Los Angeles California radio show yesterday morning. He revealed Abdul took to Twitter.com to confirm she was leaving the show in five 'tweets.' Seacrest told listeners, "It stunned me last night. ... She's a dear friend, I love her to death. I'm really sad. "As far as I know, it's real. At this point she has decided to leave... we wish her the absolute best."The host admits even he thought Abdul's tweets were part of an elaborate stunt: "I got on the phone. ... and I was told, 'Yeah, it's sad but it's true. ...' It's not a publicity stunt." Seacrest is also insisting he'll know more about Abdul's decision this weekend, when he and his fellow "Idol" judges meet up for "Idol" auditions in Denver. Reports are suggesting Abdul and "Idol" producers fell out over money, producers allegedly offered her a 30 per cent raise for the upcoming season and she insisted that wasn't enough.
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