Paula Abdul and Corey Clark, American Idol, 2003

Paula’s time on Idol was not without controversy. In its second season, contestant Corey Clark was disqualified for not disclosing a prior arrest to producers. Two years later (in what seemed like a ploy for publicity), he alleged that he had had an affair with Paula and that she had helped him make the Top 12. After an investigation, producers dismissed the claims, and Paula returned for four more seasons, leaving the show in 2009.