Paula Abdul: ‘I’ve Never Been Drunk’

Paula Abdul’s spacy behavior on “American Idol” has prompted many to ponder if there’s a tumbler or two of booze in that red cup on the table in front of her on the Fox talent contest.

That’s nonsense, the 44-year-old “Idol” judge tells Us Weekly magazine in its Feb. 16 issue. “I’ve never been drunk. I have never done recreational drugs,” she says. “Just look at my 20-year career. Tell me someone who is into partying or doing drugs that could have done that.”

In her five years on “Idol,” Abdul — a singer and a movie, TV and stage choreographer — has weathered criticism about her sometimes odd behavior, which has included slurred and garbled speech, and her not-so-subtle gushing over the show’s young, male singers.

“There have been 100 million lies about me,” says Abdul, who has said she’s taken prescription medication for health problems, including inflammatory arthritis. “I’m squeaky clean. I’ve worked my ass off my entire life. (But) being involved in the show causes people to question everything.”

Last year, Fox announced that Abdul signed a deal to put up with Simon Cowell — oh, and judge, too — on “Idol” through 2008.

“I have never missed a live show,” Abdul notes. “Even when I had surgery on my hand (for an infection caused by a botched manicure in 2004), I left my hospital bed to go to the show.”