"The problem was that, at the time, I was. One of these theories revolves around the idea that Paula invented the plane crash in 2003, after regaining the limelight as an American Idol judge, to give herself an excuse for falling out of the public eye and to distract from the downturn in her career and personal life during this period. I find it hard to believe she claims she was never out of it during her time on American Idol. Abdul has also cited car accidents and her long history as a dancer (including her famous stint as a Laker Girl) as contributing to her pain. She resumed her Under My Spell tour, which according to Wikipedia, wrapped in August of that year. "You can't take things personally, and the things that resonate with you that can help you become better, the best version of yourself, you hold onto and you work through that. I'm not ready for the facelift and cutting I wanted any alternative to doing that and I don't have downtime. "You know what? 2 Rich Juzwiak at Jezebel dug up records that give us a possible date for the alleged crash. Then you do ear-irrigation and balancing exercises. The veteran singer remarked that she is glad there were no social media platforms during her crash, or else she would have been considered a damaged star. However, no record of any such plane crash exists, and her telling of the events surrounding the supposed event has changed over the years. It was on my birthday, too. (As previously mentioned, the Under My Spell tour wrapped in 1992, and Abduls birthday is June 19.) 2005 People interview, discusses details including plane route. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. She was outweighed by doubt for the first time in her life as she battled excruciating pain. According to Paula, around the time her Under My Spell tour concluded in 1992, she was involved in a plane crash. But that trust-fall hasnt been the most shocking segment of Abduls Forever Your Girl Vegas residency, headlining performance at last years L.A. EDIT: As referenced in footnote 2, the Jezebel article had an edit claiming that a reader had found a Kansas City Star article listing a June 20, 1992 date at the Sandstone Ampitheater in Bonner Springs, outside of Kansas City. In the process, she told a story shes previously told several times about surviving a plane crash during her Under My Spell Tour, which ran from 1991-92. Translation: These are my excuses for constantly being fucked up on pain pills.. So, I really don't care what people have to say. 1 Some articles list 1993 as the date of the crash, including some quotes from Abdul herself, but in the grand scheme of things this did not seem particularly significant. /*# sourceMappingURL=https://www.redditstatic.com/desktop2x/chunkCSS/UsersCountIndicator.2ab8dda40f822a31d31c_.css.map*/random gossip. Abdul claimed the injuries caused her to be inactive in the industry for over seven years as she endured 15 cervical spine surgeries with top doctors around the world, hoping to get back to one piece. I followed every rule, everything they asked me to do. "When we plummeted, I hit my head on the ceiling of the plane. The whole plane was in flames, is how she described it to the Hudson Union Society. Gloria Estefan was in a horrible bus accident, maybe shes mixing that into her own life in a chemically altered, desperate way. Id bet even people who have no experience with drugs can at least sense theres something off about her during that show. To me, the most shocking part is that she said that she had to take a break from her music career during that the time frame of the incident in 1992 all the way to her stint as a judge on American Idol, ten years later. Not only that, Paula has also mixed up her timeline of the incident as well. Paula Abdul has been a feature of popular music, and pop culture more generally, for the better part of four decades now. The injuries from the crash affected her more mentally than physically. It makes sense and would account for some of her injuries that she allegedly has suffered over the years. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We had plenty of tabloid journalism then it was simply in print. I've always wondered about her plane crash story too. It was in 1994 when I spoke with him, and I believe at that time he was VFR. It's USA not Congo. Further speaking about that time in her life, Abdul said during her Forever Your Girl Vegas show, I lost myself, I lost my passion and that little girl inside me who was once fearless. Abdul wasnt so specific on RuPaul, but in previous tellings, she has pinpointed the date of the accident as occurring between the St. Louis and Denver stops on the tour. And I was knocked out again, only to wake up in a hospital where a microsurgeon had told me that I had crushed my entire cervical spine, which led to [inaudible] paralysis on my right side. She seems like a bit of an odd duck. To be fair, in 92 it would be very very easy for a small private or charter company that caters to the rich and famous to hide a crash or accident to avoid negative image. Honestly, I can't believe that I am even asking a question about Paula Abdul in 2020, but my question is, is there any chance that this incident ever happened? Anyone able to verify that better? ._3wvjcIArtO7kKPJabZfZ9S{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:400;line-height:16px;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:24px;opacity:0;transition:opacity .1s ease-in-out}._3wvjcIArtO7kKPJabZfZ9S._1c98ixuh4QUWO9ERiFID3p{opacity:1}.RtAsN7UrR7u51W5kaOXvp{display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-left:4px;margin-right:0}._1JRtpiobR4jYtbw-xx1tPO{border:1px solid var(--newRedditTheme-body);margin-left:-7px;transform:scaleX(-1)}._1JRtpiobR4jYtbw-xx1tPO:nth-child(2){margin-top:4px} Thank God for the Kardashians, moving the needle and showing laser procedures on television and actually educating women of what's out there, says the always candid Abdul. And then I reappeared on American Idol.. There are a few aspects of Abduls story that are pointed to as proof that she is lying. Back then, we didn't have tabloids like we do now," she said. 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After Las Vegas Flight Drama: 'Your Co-Pilot Through Life', Luke Bryan Kicks Off Las Vegas Residency with Endless Hits, Pyrotechnics and His Signature Butt-Shaking, Carrie Underwood Shares Diary Entry from Night She Won 'American Idol' : 'Where Does the Time Go? From her '80s hits, including "Straight Up" and "Forever Your Girl," to her high-profile marriage to Emilio Estevez to her time as a judge in the early seasons of American Idol, Paula Abdul is considered by many to be an icon. Wouldnt she have some sort of Entourage with her? It was not fun," she continued. Abdul later choreographed music videos for Janet Jackson and enjoyed more success. The story changes in bits every time, and there is no documented mention of it at all before Abduls 2003 NBC interview. Patrick Swayze was in real, honest to goodness accident: I remember hearing a rumor years back that he got drunk and crashed a plane. Dave Ryan in the Morning provided the audio from that interview for Jezebel to post: (Credit where its due: It was KDWBs in-house conspiracy-theorizing after the interview that inspired me to write this post. In an episode of her show, the "Straight Up" singer opened up on the horrifying event, which she said took years to recover from. In the last year or so, as shes become more outspoken both in interviews and onstage about her injuries and recovery, some gossip sites, like Jezebel and DListed, have claimed that Abdul entirely fabricated her mysterious plane-crash story. The tour she mentions ran from 1991 to 1992, and most articles state 1992. There are only a handful of aircraft accidents, in fact, in the general vicinity during the timeframe between June 19, 1992, and June 22, 1992in Meade, Kansas, in Rocky Ford, Colorado, in Brighton, Colorado, in Falcon, Colorado. In fact, according to her, she has never even been drunk. "[I] didn't want to talk too much about it, because it took me a long time to build the career that I had, and I didn't want to be counted out or fearful of people not understanding and thinking that, 'Well, maybe she's really not doing well,'" she told the outlet. Following her recovery, Abdul spends more time caring for her skin, doing what she loves best, and living her life to the fullest. I tried taking the different medications the doctors prescribed, but it was the same old story," she told the magazine. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. She suffered years of chronic pain, a battle she dealt with privately. This possibly compounded with previous injuries (such as the cheerleading accident she often mentions in conjunction with the plane crash story) and caused severe harm, but the plane did not crash. When we plummeted, I hit my head on the ceiling of the plane. Now, Abdul is focused on self-esteem and self-care. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. I think Paula just gets high on pain pills and makes things up. Pride festival, or other recent comeback concerts. Of Course the Grammys Brought Up the Slap, Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Lucien Laviscount Dishes on Red Flags and Romantic Deal Breakers. ), I was knocked out unconscious, she recalled during the Staten Island stop on her (utterly incredible) 2018 Straight Up Paula Tour, which incorporated the plane-crash story in its narrative of Abduls perseverance. I doubt not a single person told their story to some newspaper unless they were told not to. Not too long after that, the actor was glad to resume his flight. I ended up having to take almost seven years off to have all these different neurosurgeons operating on me.". There is enough room for the basic story to be true. Paula Abdul launched her "Forever Your Girl" Vegas show on Thursday (October 24), and though an exciting night the 57-year-old took some time to recall a particularly traumatic time in her life: when she was involved in a plane crash in 1992. There is simply too much social incentive in doing so and anyone who tried to say that you are lying will be demonized as an insensitive prick. A spokesperson in the press office of the Federal Aviation Administration wrote to me that its possible that such a crash would have not been investigated if it resulted in minor damage to the aircraft and minor injuries to those on board. Theres certainly no clear-cut evidence proving she was ever an addict, but its also nearly impossible to disprove something. And that changed my life.. You did a kick ass job! Picture of American singer, Paula Abdul during an interview with RuPaul. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. During the opening night of her show at Flamingo Las Vegas on Thursday, the 57-year-old "Straight Up". Likewise, Im sure Princess Diana would be pleased to know that paparazzi didnt exist then. I woke up in the hospital only to find that I had crushed my cervical spine, leaving me partially paralyzed.. You learn to live like that. Paula Abdul knew Jennifer Hudson "didn't need to win" 'American Idol' to realize her dreams. I didnt want people to feel sorry for me or to count me out., Back then, we didnt have tabloids like we do now, she reportedly told journalist Allison Kugel in 2018. Wow. We have a news anchor and multiple presidential candidates who have either made up or altered aviation stories to make them the hero. Do any of you guys remember hearing about the incident back in 1992 or even later on? Theory 3: Paula Abdul is telling the truth about being in a crash and her story was brought into doubt due to some unfortunate gaps in information, such as the NTSB records being incomplete/the accident not being reported at all, her own choice to keep quiet for an extended period of time, and miscommunications about whether or not she was using pain medication. AFP. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch story that ran June 21, 1992, placed the date of her St. Louis performance at June 19, 1992, Abduls 30th birthday. I mean, I had a spinal cord injury and nerve damage. Its a horrible horrible disease. Though there are naysayers about Paul's alleged plane crash, the singer has not wavered from discussing it to the press. That says something. Ep 7: The Great Debate: Paula Abdul's Plane Crash Revisited! Her disclosure. In the same interview, Paula also further elaborated on her injuries from the crash. This means that there was a date between the St. Louis and Denver shows that have been found, and to me this rules out there being a St. Louis to Denver flight at all. Paula Abdul Plane Crash American Idol The Brain Reality TV More stories from Paula Abdul Top 10 Biggest American Idol Scandals WatchMojo Movieguide Awards: Terry Crews to Host, Chrissy Metz to Perform at 2023 Ceremony (Exclusive) hollywoodreporter.com - Kimberly Nordyke 100 Best Music Videos Of All Time yourtango.com - Alice Kelly So I needed something that was so minimal, I literally was out walking and enjoying my life the next day. I 100% agree with your point about no one coming forward--she has said things along the lines of "ask anyone who was on the plane with me, they'll say the exact same thing happened", but we haven't heard from anyone on the plane with her even though it was people like her makeup artist who I'd think it would be easy to track down. A lot of women here in this industry, they don't talk about this until now. https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/116362/Paula-Abdul-thankful-social-media-wasn-t-around-during-plane-crash-recovery. | Photo: youtube.com/RuPaul. 2020 Yahoo interview where Abdul discusses people doubting her and why she did not speak about the crash earlier. I want America to know that I have never been addicted to anything, no chemical dependency, nothing for recreational purposes.". She extended her talents to the movie industry, featuring in movies like "The Waiting Game," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and "The Wayans Bros." Her movie career did not enjoy the success she enjoyed as a singer and dancer. It's like, there are seven other people that were on the plane, who were in that plane accident with me. LOS ANGELES, April 22 (UPI) -- "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has revealed she suffers from a rare and painful physical disorder called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Or I sat on my hands and pulled my fingers or pressed down on my hand something to distract me from the pain.". The idea that this happened but was just kept secret through lack of internet is ludicrous. Little known fact: It happened while Brian Willams interviewed her. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. She explained that during turbulence she hit her head and suffered a head/neck injury. The other, more popular theory, is that she used the plane crash as an excuse to either explain away her loopy behavior during her American Idol years as non-drug related (if you believe 2005 USA Today I have never been addicted to anything Paula Abdul) or to excuse it as being caused by medication prescribed to her for her injuries. The flight she claims to have taken is pretty much straight west, and crashing in Iowa would require a significant detour north. She also loved to whine about how far her career had fallen and how she was going to make a comeback if she ever got better (?). Sure, rx is cleaned and safer than street dope but the body doesnt care. She could have mistaken Kansas City for St. Louis or misremembered, but her stated flight path doesn't seem to have happened. A dependency is much easier to recover from than is addiction. Paula Abdul made a name as one of the most popular dancers and singers in the 1980s. Before a rapt crowd, she recalled the time everything came crashing down., It all happened when I boarded a seven-seater plane and an hour into the flight one of the engines blew up and the right wing caught fire and everything went black, she said. Despite her claims of the crash, some internet users believe the singer fabricated the story. I dont have proof of anything, but a personal anecdote. What Does Paula Abdul Claim About Being In A Plane Crash?. A tour manager or roadie or someone? Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. It's like, you learn and grow through wisdom and experience of being in this business, especially with the internet," she told the outlet. And when I came to, all seven of us were holding hands. The good thing was that she was able to sit out a few years and focus on her health without having to deal with the negativity that often arises on the internet. She was divorced twice between 1994 and 1998. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. But last Thanksgiving, determined to overcome her habit, she checked into the La Costa Resort and Spa, in Carlsbad, California, to wean herself off her medications in one fell swoop. "I wasn't able to do what I love, my heart place, which is dancing. Was this a ploy for attention that ripped off of Gloria Estefans accident? Abduls website lists no shows between the June 10 show in Greenwood Village and the June 23 show in Seattle. Paula Abdul has wowed onlookers with her recent death- and gravity-defying live performances, during which she has swan-dived from "Cold-Hearted"-style scaffolding into the waiting arms of her. Yes, the local glider pilots call that area, which is just east of their field, Patrick Swayze International Airport. I was a big fan of hers when I was young, I vaguely remember the story about the plane crash and I definitely remember hearing about her injuring her back and struggling w/ an eating disorder. On Tuesdays episode of RuPauls new talk show, RuPaul (which kicked off a three-week trial run Monday on selected Fox affiliates), consummate survivor and savior of this years Billboard Music Awards show, Paula Abdul, took to Rus pink couch to promote her upcoming Las Vegas residency. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. So although there are pre-1996 records available on this site, there is no guarantee that these records are complete. This compounded her existing spinal injuries and her condition deteriorated for several years until around 1994 her health problems prevented her from working. Pop singer and dancer Paula Abdul is "opening up" about her 1992 plane crash: The only date possible for this "crash" is around June 8-10, 1992, which resulted in various tour dates of hers being cancelled with no explanation. I started losing all feeling on my right side, and I was starting to really live in excruciating pain. Then, over a cornfield in Iowa, Abdul in 2019 said the following took place: It all happened when I boarded a seven-seater plane and an hour into the flight one of the engines blew up and the right wing caught fire and everything went blackI woke up in the hospital only to find that I had crushed my cervical spine, leaving me partially paralyzed.. Abdul arrived in the entertainment industry as one of the most promising talents of her time. is for general information purposes only. 9 1 2 2 Sep 9, 2020 #20 LemonLimeSoda Dollar General Brand Joined Aug 15, 2013 Messages 10,174 Reactions 55,318 4,123 684 Alleybux 26,840 ForumsStaySpilling said: It's like, there are seven other people that were on the plane, who were in that plane accident with me. One is that this went entirely unreported at the timea search of Nexis archives yields no news stories from the 90s about Abdul, who was at one point a bonafide superstar, surviving a plane crash (or even being in a plane that required an emergency landing).