Did Jennifer Lopez Confirm During Today Show Interview She’s Leaving American Idol?
Earlier this year, around the time she announced she’d be in the middle of a world tour when the American Idol auditions began, Jennifer Lopez took a place on the fence and she’s been sitting there ever since. She’s been playing dumb, and playing reticent, in hopes of negotiating a better payday.
She’s done this before, this is (at least) her second attempt at a laboured negotiation strategy. Although, she’s getting sloppy. She gave too firm an answer to questioning on Thursday’s Today Show. Where obfuscating would have left a little mystery, instead, Lopez said during a live satellite interview: “It’s time for me to go and do the things that I love to do… like make films and performing. It’s been on my mind a lot, as you can imagine. You know, I signed on to American Idol to do one year, and… I wound up doing the two years. And now it’s like, ‘OK, do we continue on this journey?’ I’ve loved it so much. I enjoy the show so much… But I have to say that there are so many other things that I do, and that I put on hold for that. At the end of the day, whichever way, it’s a heartbreaking decision if I’m going to have to go.”
TMZ.com attempts to quell rumours started during Today’s interview.
Jennifer Lopez is telling friends she has not made up her mind on her future with American Idol and will not make a decision until after she finishes her current concert tour with Enrique Iglesias.
There are reports Jennifer has already informed producers she’s a no-go to return to the judge’s table next season, but sources close to J.Lo tell us the reports are absolutely not true.
Jennifer wants to “see where things are in her life” when the concert ends. Translation: If Jen’s popularity is up after the tour and she has more options, she’s more likely to bounce off the show. If she’s not Idol isn’t a bad fallback [job].
It wouldn’t be the first time [Jennifer] waited until the last minute; last year, she held out until late August and finally gave in when producers agreed to fork over $20 million for a one year deal. – via TMZ.
The show’s been growing stale, and its numbers are slipping, and there’s been talk of re-tooling (producers suggested so heavily earlier this year) or getting all new judges (maybe Miley Cyrus, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, or Charlie Sheen who’s a non-serious option).
In May, after reports that Lopez was letting her 25-year-old boyfriend sit in and make decisions for her during negotiations, and even more convoluted tabloid rumours, producer Nigel Lythgoe clarified to TMZ.com the door was open and there was no drama: “It’s a business. She has to weigh everything. I know she’s gotten lots of offers to do movies and other things.” It’s been two months, and Lopez is still “deciding.” Meaning, specifically, she wants more than the $15 million Britney Spears will earn for X Factor.