Viewers weigh in on the 'Idol' flap

Corey Clark's explosive accusations Wednesday night that Paula Abdul had acted improperly as a celebrity judge on Fox's ''American Idol" in 2003 set off a stormy debate among fans and media watchers yesterday.

On websites and radio talk shows, many people who believed Clark's allegations, made public during an hourlong ''Primetime Live" report on ABC, said they expected Abdul to resign or be fired before the start of the next season.

''I think she's going to get the ax. I don't think they're going to let her stay," said Sybil Wilkes, cohost of the nationally syndicated ''Tom Joyner Morning Show," which fielded more than 100 phone calls yesterday on the issue.

Fox released a statement yesterday saying that ABC's exposé, which attracted 13.7 million viewers, was ''filled with rumor, speculation and assertions from a disqualified contestant who admitted during the special to telling lies." Fox added that it has contacted Clark and requested that he detail his accusations to the network, but he hasn't responded.

Fox, however, also said it is investigating the assertions on its own and remains ''absolutely committed to the fairness of this competition."

Some fans, like Paul Timmins, a 49-year-old loan administrator who lives in Revere, said that even if Abdul did help Clark off-camera, she should not be punished.

''They were both consenting adults," he said. ''Maybe she crossed the line, but did that impact the vote? No. The performances are judged by the public and there's no way Paula can do anything to influence who's calling."

Judges critique performances each week during ''American Idol," but the public's votes, via phone or text messaging, determine the contestant who's eliminated.

On ''Primetime Live," Clark, now 24 years old, alleged that he had a sexual relationship with Abdul, 42, while he was a contestant in 2003. He also maintained that Abdul had bought him expensive clothing for the contest, had helped him select the songs he performed, and had given him unsolicited advice on the program.

Clark, who was removed from ''American Idol" after Fox learned that he had a criminal arrest history, is recording a CD that will include a song about his alleged experience with Abdul.

In a statement issued last week, Abdul's publicist said Clark is a ''liar" who is trying to generate attention for himself. The publicist could not be reached yesterday.

Abdul is no stranger to controversy. This season on ''American Idol," she has drawn attention to herself because of unusual on-camera behavior, including making emotional outbursts, slurring words, and clapping like a seal during the show. Abdul has told the media that she is on an emotional high because she is pain-free for the first time since she suffered neck injuries as a teenager.

With such a complicated history, Abdul is ripe for her own tell-all special, said Janet Staiger, a professor of women's studies and communication at the University of Texas at Austin. ''If I were her publicist, I would find a way to make her a victim. That will help her career return," Staiger said.

The same might not be said for Clark's budding career. Yesterday, websites like Realitytvworld.com were filled with venom.

''Did anyone notice that every time Corey was asked a question that his eyes drifted downward? . . . I think he's a sleaze," one viewer said.

Another said: ''This guy saved his phone records and a voice mail message for two years. I think he was planning this all along."

With the latest flap coming on the heels of last month's debacle, when Fox announced that it had displayed the wrong on-screen phone numbers for ''American Idol" voting, some fans are voicing more and more suspicion about the credibility of the competition.

Although ''American Idol" is the second-most popular show on television this season, after ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," Wilkes believes that popularity won't last forever. And behind the scenes, she said, Fox may be doing whatever it takes to keep the public buzzing about the program -- even the unthinkable.

''Maybe someone at Fox pointed Corey Clark in the direction of ABC News," she said. ''It would be a brilliant way to keep people watching."

Suzanne Ryan can be reached at sryan@globe.com