Paula Abdul Upset by Phone Leak

By: Shannon Gossage

Abdul was reportedly recorded crying and complaining about her former rep to a number of publicists. She reportedly said, "I've been going though tremendous amounts of a difficult time." She then reportedly trashed her former rep Howard Bragman saying, "I've never been treated this way and I've never seen anybody treated this way. This is just too much to stomach." Abdul went on to say, "All I ever wanted in my life is to be treated fairly and be treated with kindness. And I've never in my entire career been treated this way."

Abdul was also heard complaining about Bragman saying, "Howard Bragman on Monday - he did some disgusting behavior. I had to go to Jimmy Kimmel [on May 15] with no publicist there. I go on with no publicist there and I pay this man…I don't understand how this man can call me a whining b*tch. I've never in my life been called a whining b*tch and a loser." The tape was leaked on Thursday and Abdul released a statement that said, "I am deeply hurt and extremely disappointed that someone has taken a private telephone conversation that I had with my representatives and released it to the media. This is not only illegal but also highly unethical. While I don't feel a need to justify or explain my conversation, even as a public figure I do feel my privacy has been violated and find this action to be unacceptable."

Sources say that Bragman couldn't handle Abdul's emotional instability and had just had enough. The source said, "He got tired of her crying every time they had a meeting. She would literally break down in tears every time they would talk. It just became too crazy of a situation for him to deal with." Abdul felt as if he didn't "appreciate her" and a source said that Bragman felt as if she was just a "hassle."