Paula Abdul, Ju'Not Joyner Spotlight Ugly Side of 'American Idol'

Aug. 6, 2009 — -- It entertains millions of viewers a week, creates water cooler fodder after every episode and manages to shift the majority of the country to the edge of its proverbial seat the night before each season finale.

But for some of the show's contestants, judges and staff, the "American Idol" experience is something else entirely, and it's not always pleasant. At times, they claim, the reality competition can be unfair and manipulative, grueling and deceitful.

Now, they're ditching "American Idol" and coming clean.

Paula Abdul bid adieu to "Idol" this week after her manager called the show "rude and disrespectful" for not offering her a formal proposal for a season nine contract. Abdul had served as a judge on the Fox reality competition since it began in 2002. The New York Times reported that "Idol" offered her a 30 percent raise and a total multi-year deal worth more than $10 million to stay. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abdul wanted $20 million.

"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon," Abdul announced on her Twitter feed Tuesday. She declined to elaborate on why she left the show, as did Fox and the show's producers, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment.

Ju'Not Joyner, a top 20 finalist from "Idol's" past season, hasn't been as tight-lipped. During a Web chat with "Idol" fans last week, Joyner called the competition rigged and claimed the show's producers try to manipulate contestants.

"It's fixed. It's manipulated," Joyner told ABCNews.com afterward, saying that "Idol" spotlights certain contestants producers feel will resonate with the audience and, literally, keeps others in the shadows. "It's scripted; it's not a talent competition. They show you who they want to show, and that's just what it is. They have some people, when they get on stage, lights come out that you didn't even know existed."