Paula Abdul Quits Idol on Twitter

Paula Abdul’s Idol journey is officially over, with the longtime reality judge announcing her termination from the show on her Twitter feed.

Abdul, who has been with American Idol since its creation, said that she had made the decision to leave, but would miss the show terrribly and was grateful for all the love and support she had received over the years.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to ‘Idol,’” her Tweet read. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent,but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from Day 1 become an international phenomenon… What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me… It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month… I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”

Although Abdul hadn’t made it official with the show’s producers, a joint statement from Fox, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment – the brawn behind Idol – confirmed that the former performing artist would not be returning the for the show’s ninth cycle.

The statement read: “Paula Abdul has been an important part of the ‘American Idol’ family over the last eight seasons, and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Apparently, Abdul was demanding $20 million to stick with the reality show. She rejected an offer of a 30 % pay increase, which would have seen the onetime singer pocket an eight-figure sum in a multiyear deal.

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LAPD Search Home & Office of Jackson’s Doctor, Manslaughter Charges Pending

Dr. Conrad Murray is now likely to be convicted in the death of Michael Jackson, as Dea agents, LAPD and Las Vegas police descend on his Las Vegas home and office, armed with more search warrants.

A law enforcement official told FOXNews.com that the gated community of Jackson’s personal physician, and his office Global Cardiovascular Associates, were searched early Tuesday morning in the hopes of finding the evidence needed to formally charge him with manslaughter.

The day before, another law enforcement official told the news network that investigators in the case believed Murray was the one who had given Jackson the fatal dose of Propofol, just hours before his cardiac arrest on June 25. It is this dose the powerful sedative that is thought to have been the primary cause of death, which means that Murray, being the doctor who prescribed and administered it, would be liable for a manslaughter charge.

Murray’s lawyer, however, has said that the doctor “didn’t prescribe or administer anything that should have killed Michael Jackson.” When asked about the LAPD’s anonymous statements to the contrary, lawyer Edward Chernoff added: “We will not be commenting on rumours, innuendo or unnamed sources.”

However, while Chernoff remains adamant that his client isn’t any more of a suspect in the death of Michael Jackson than any of the doctors the late singer had in his service over the years, the lawyer did confirm that there had been multiple searches carried out by both police and agents alike at the doctor’s home and office.

“The search warrant authorized investigators to look for medical records relating to Michael Jackson and all of his reported aliases,” Chernoff’s statement read. “Dr. Murray was present during the search of his home and assisted the officers. Investigators left Dr. Murray’s home around 12 noon, seizing cell phones and a computer hard drive.”

Murray’s office in Houston was searched prior to his home in Las Vegas, with the search warrant stating that authorities on the scene were to look for “property or items constituting evidence of the offense of manslaughter that tend to show that Dr. Conrad Murray committed the said criminal offense.”

Both warrants were said to have been granted based on the preliminary toxicology reports, which at this stage have pinpointed Propofol as a contributing factor in Jackson’s death.

While the official toxicology findings are still days – maybe weeks – away, investigators are “working under the theory” that the sedative caused Jackson’s heart to stop, a source revealed. At this stage, law enforcement officials have been able to determine that the King of Pop had been using the powerful drug – hospital grade, and never intended for home use – for about two years. Since Dr. Murray only cam into Jackson’s service in May of this year, investigators are busily trying to find out how many other doctors illegally prescribed and administered the drug to the singer.

From the court documents, which label Dr. Conrad Murray as the prime suspect in the manslaughter investigation, Jackson “relied on Propofol like an alarm clock,” and would have the drug administered in an IV drip by a physician when he went to sleep. The IV drip would be stopped when it was time for the singer to wake up.

On the day of Jackson’s death, Dr. Murray was staying in singer’s Los Angeles mansion and “happened to find” an unconscious Jackson in his bedroom. Chernoff, Murray’s lawyer, said the doctor “tried to revive” the pop star by “compressing his chest” with one hand while supporting his back with the other.

His revival attempts were in vain, and Jackson died of a drug-assisted cardiac arrest on June 25.

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LAPD Treating Jackson’s Death as Homicide

La Toya Jackson’s belief that her younger brother was murdered may be right on the money, with sources at the LAPD admitting that they were now treating the King of Pop’s death as a homicide – and the prime suspect is Dr. Conrad Murray.

While initial reports from the Los Angeles Police Department suggested that Murray wasn’t a suspect, sources have revealed that evidence collected at the scene of Jackson’s June 25 death suggest that the anesthesia Propofol was the “primary cause” of his fatal cardiac arrest, a drug which was administered by Dr. Murray.

Sources added that there was “plenty of powerful evidence” linking Dr. Murray to the drug, including vials of Propofol, an IV stand and an oxygen tank, which were all found at Jackson’s house.

At this stage, Dr. Murray’s lawyer has refused to either confirm or deny the reports that his client is under official investigation, and while the case against the doctor has not been formally presented to the D.A., sources within the LAPD say that its only a matter of time.

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Elizabeth Taylor to Skip Jackson Memorial

Dame Elizabeth Taylor has confirmed that she will not attend the memorial service of her close friend Michael Jackson, and says that the late popstar would have “approved” of her decision.

Pouring out her grief on her official Twitter page, Taylor said, “I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event.”

Though she has chosen to remain home, Taylor admits that she was asked to speak at Tuesday’s memorial service at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

“I cannot be part of the public whoopla,” the 77-year-old wrote. “And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.”

The actress added: “I will always love Michael from the depth of my being and nothing can separate us. My love goes out to Katherine and Michael’s beloved children.”

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Britney Spears Makes Light of Recent Celebrity Passings

Pop star Britney Spears has made light of the number of recent celebrity deaths, jokingly posting a notice of her own passing to her official Twitter account moments ago.

The Womanizer singer, who has just announced plans to tour Australia for the first time in her career, posted a picture of a rudimentary black cross via TwitPic, with the caption: “Britney has passed today. It is a sad day for everyone. More news to come.”

This tweet comes hours after American television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Tampa home, and days after Hollywood lost the shining lights of Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Ed McMahon.

UPDATE: The tweet has since been removed from Spears’ official Twitter page. No doubt her management got wind of the tweet and removed it before it could offend any members of those families who’ve lost loved ones over the last week.

UPDATE # 2: It appears Britney Spears’ Twitter account was hacked earlier today, and the offensive tweet was posted by an unknown hacker. Twitter has since disabled the ability to upload mobile photos via TwitPic.

It’s Official: Madonna & Guy Ritchie Split

After almost eight years of marriage, Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have officially split.

Madonna’s rep Liz Rosenberg confirmed the split on Wednesday, releasing a joint statement to the press on behalf of both Madge and Guy.

The statement read: “Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after seven-and-a-half years of marriage. They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time.”

“The main concern for Madonna and Guy are their children – the security of their children in all sense of the word and the wellbeing of their children,” Rosenberg added. “That’s the priority for both of them moving forward. It’s a sad situation.”

A settlement has not yet been reached.

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