Paula Abdul has a new story on painkillers

"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul on Thursday slammed a magazine report that she suffered a dependency on painkillers, saying that her statements were taken out of context.

The report posted on the Web site of Ladies? Home Journal earlier this week described Abdul as having overcome a painkiller habit that began years ago when she was wracked with pain from various injuries. The magazine said that Abdul, to overcome her habit, checked into the La Costa Resort & Spa in California last Thanksgiving to wean herself off painkillers.

But in an interview on Thursday with Detroit radio station WKQI, Abdul disputed that.

"It was very stressful for me to hear that and to be quoted saying something I?ve never said," Abdul told the radio station. "I?ve never checked into a rehab clinic, I?ve never been addicted or abused drugs and I?ve never been addicted or abused alcohol. I?ve never been drunk in my life."

But Abdul did not dispute everything in the magazine article. One of the radio hosts asked about a quote in the Ladies? Home Journal article in which Abdul, after the description of her checking into the spa, said that she suffered freezing cold, chattering teeth and excruciating pain. "That actually is true," Abdul told the radio station, without elaborating.

In the magazine article, Abdul was quoted as saying she suffered from "withdrawal" at the time.

But Abdul said that she simply checked into the spa to relax, and that it is not a rehab center.

Later, one of the radio hosts asked: "So you sure you ain?t never been on those drugs?"

"We?re not going to go there," Abdul said.

So the story remains unclear. When the Ladies? Home Journal article appeared online this week, it came after years of media speculation about whether painkillers contributed to Abdul?s sometimes bizarre behavior on "American Idol" and in television interviews, but the 1980s pop star had repeatedly denied any addiction to painkillers. She has, however, openly described the pain and medical problems she has suffered.

Patrick Taylor, a spokesman for Ladies? Home Journal, said the magazine stands by the article.

Meanwhile, Abdul spoke about her singing and dancing on "Idol" on Wednesday night in the interview with WKQI. It was her first ever performance on the "Idol" stage. The radio station asked her what sharp-tongued alpha judge Simon Cowell had to say about the performance.

sections: Celebrities