Abdul publicist denies 'Idol' exit rumors

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A publicist for Paula Abdul says the singer has no plans to step down as a judge on the hit U.S. TV series "American Idol" despite ongoing rumors.

Publicist Jeff Ballard said while there have been rumors alleging the "Head Over Heels" singer intends to leave the popular FOX reality competition, those claims are unfounded at best, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"It's absolutely untrue," Ballard said of such talk.

Both officials at FOX and BWR, the "Idol" producers' publicity firm, would not confirm whether the persistent rumors were true or not.

The Times said the talk of a possible exit by the 46-year-old singer comes just as singer Kara DioGuardi is expected to become the series' fourth judge during its upcoming eighth season alongside Abdul, record producer Randy Jackson and music manager Simon Cowell.