While I’m usually a pretty regular American Idol viewer, I don’t normally get into the swing of things until the auditions are over and I can start obsessively punching redial to get a vote through for my favorite contestants.
Sure, I catch an audition episode here and there, but I can only handle watching so many poor souls set themselves up for such abuse and degradation before I’m overwhelmed by the need to just give someone a hug and vow never to watch the show again.
So, that’s why I’m just now touching on this. I missed the Louisville, Kentucky audition at which one failed auditionee, Mark Mudd, bid the judges a pretty innocent farewell - well, pretty innocent by some standards, though not quite innocent enough for Paula Abdul:
“You don’t say that to people, ‘Be careful,’” Abdul scolded.
Well, yes, Paula honey, here in Appalachia, we do. We say it a lot. To everyone. I’ve already said it twice today and it’s not even noon.
I don’t know who was quick to point out Abdul’s mistake, but fortunately the AI crew issued a public apology, though it seems to just be for viewers who were offended. I would have focused more on Mr. Mudd, but, that’s just me. Maybe they did at some point and I just haven’t seen it. Too, the apology seemed to be intent on getting some personal defense in: “We had not heard that phrase from any other contestants during the day [...].” To me, that just means he deserves a nice “thank you,” too.
Of course, given everything Abdul’s been through regarding potentially dangerous fans, we can’t really blame her for being on edge, can we? I don’t think so. Paranoia probably runs pretty deep after an 18-year run of dealing with a stalking fan tragically ends in suicide. Combine that with unfamiliarity with the regional phrases and you’ve got a pretty honest mistake.
Last month I posted some resources for dealing with stalkers. Reading through those resources helps put into perspective a victim’s response to being stalked. Anxiety, stress, depression, self-blame, anger - these are all natural responses to being the victim of a stalker and it’s no surprise that any of them kicked into gear when Paula Abdul heard a stranger tell her to “be careful.”
Let’s hope that Abdul finds the tools she needs to work through those responses. It can’t be pleasant feeling that on-edge all the time.
Related Posts
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Add to that, that like myself, Paula has a French mother and when a French person says “be careful” you are being WARNED. not told Goodbye. I would have probable reacted in the same way.
@ Manon - Thanks for chiming in 
Because Paula has also been surrounded by American culture for so long, I’m leaning toward believing it had more to do with all the stress she’s experienced regarding the tragedy with Paula Goodspeed than any other kind of regional (re: French) meaning of the phrase.
It’s important to remember that “be careful” itself isn’t actually the “goodbye” - it’s simply what it sounds like - telling someone to be careful, be safe, travel safely, etc. and many times people say it while they’re saying goodbye. But the two aren’t really one in the same. Of course, Americans also use “be careful” as a warning pretty regularly. I think it’s because of this latter use - and Paula’s recent ordeals - that Paula was jumpy.
I don’t know… you’re more generous than I would be about giving Paula the benefit of the doubt for simply misunderstanding. I mean, if these were normal humans, this would not be a big deal–so why make it one? Obviously “be careful” is a caring thing to say, even if it IS a warning. Why does Paula have to freak out? And why would the producers even bother to respond? I get so tired of all these non-issues…
Obviously I need more coffee…
people seem to forget SIMON was the first person to point out they were threatening them. paula only did it After he did it
I didn’t forget. I just didn’t see it. I have other things to do.
Copyright © 1992-2009 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 21 Nov 2009
|
