People think I'm stupid but I'm just a bit goofy, says Abdul

Abdul (48), who returns to television next week with her own dance reality competition show, also insisted that she was naturally goofy and that her sometimes volatile public behaviour was not the result of drugs or alcohol.

"I am intelligent, I am," Abdul said in an interview with Julie Chen on CBS TV in the US.

"But, people don't give you enough credit for having a brain," Chen replied.

"Having a brain, that's a concept, yes, with Paula Abdul. I have a brain," Abdul said.

Abdul was an American Idol judge for eight years before quitting the TV singing contest in 2009 in a contract dispute. Her often odd behaviour on the show sparked rumours about drug-taking.

But the dancer and singer told Chen; "I've never had a drinking problem. Even though I've been in this business for quite some time. I've never physically been drunk in my life. I've never been drunk in my life. I don't use recreational drugs. But, I am goofy.

"It's Paula. It is Paula. And, even the people on Idol know that none of that existed, ever."

hnews@herald.ie