When the show made Abdul aware of a contestant who was "crazy about" her, she objected. You know, [she] had attempted to do that a few months prior, Paula continued. She auditioned for American Idol in 2006, and has been found dead outside Paula Abdul's home. It was a very tragic, unfortunate, [and] sad, Paula told Billy I was very blessed and lucky to have been at [work at Idols] Hollywood Week when it happened.. In a Facebook video, Borgella said it was an "unexpected"and "rare case" that had "spread to [her] chest." Paula Goodspeed, the "American Idol" contestant who was an obsessive fan of Paula Abdul, was found dead in her car near the TV judge's home in an apparent suicide by overdose . Cause of death: He was killed at age 36 after a drunk driver going the wrong way crashed into his car when he was returning to his home in Oklahoma City. I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday, Abdul said in a statement. Kosewicz, whose boyfriend killed himself two months before her death, had complained on MySpace about how the show had adversely affected her life. Death 11 Nov 2008 (aged 30) Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, California, USA . It is said that Goodspeed sent Abdul a bouquet of flowers before killing herself. He was doing some shallow water shots for his daughter Bindi's TV show, Bindi the Jungle Girl, when a stingray pierced his chest with its tail spine. "We are all heartbroken," the message stated. The car, parked a few doors down from Abduls house, featured a license plate ABL LV and had a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear view mirror. Police confirmed Goodspeed died after overdosing and had been involved in several incidents at Abdul's home in recent years. Would love your thoughts, please comment. He died in March 2011 from cardiac arrest, just hours after filming a video for funnyordie.com. It hit us like an express train. Hundreds of people attended a memorial event in East London for Jack. Cause of death: Harris was 31 years old when he died after suffering cariac arrest. Subscribe for Latest Update! Julien Hug, a restaurateur featured as a contestant on ABC's The Bachelorette, shot himself n Nov. 2010. Thats where she belted out Ben (Top 10), Piece of My Heart (Top 8), Heartbreaker (Top 7), Hard-Hearted Hannah (Top 6), (Theres) Always Something There to Remind Me (Top 5) and Mary Jane (Top 4). A helicopter crash in February 2013 claimed the lives of three people involved the shooting of an "untitled military project" for Discovery Channel in Acton, Calif. She died in her car outside of Abduls home. Gabriel Ben-Meir, a 30-year-old music coordinator for MTV who worked on Punk'dand other shows for the network, was shot to death outside his home in L.A.'s mid-Wilshire district in May 2011. ", 'Everyone knew, I mean I was shaking and they thought this (would be) for entertainment value.'. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Were sure you remember her 2008 X Factor audition where Simon Cowell slammed her act as an utter and complete nightmare. She was kept on life support until her organs could be harvested. News, falling toFantasia Barrinowho was crowned the winner. Lynche, who also appeared on the All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child actor, died from "acute and chronic alcoholism," according to officials. And the thing is, that all she could do was get a hold of me through my fan club.. "Simon is a big fat bad word," she says, before flipping the camera the bird. Burdett did not answer the door, or phone. During her audition, she said that she often drew pictures of Abdul and been drawing them since she was young. He soared through the competition by impressing viewers with his gospel-infused vocals each week. I happened to be in New York when I heard about it., Goodspeed auditioned for Idol in February 2006, dressed in pink, and with a mouth full of braces, she proclaimed, You have to have a certain personality to pull my look off., I really like Paula Abdul a lot, Goodspeed said on the show. The media outlet reports Abdul wasn't at home. Two suspects, Jabaar Vincent Thomas and Destiny Young, were later charged with second-degree murder. Also, PEOPLE has learned, Goodspeed had changed her first name from Sandra to Paula. She returned to the show to audition in Season 8, according to BBC, but the publication added that Cowell still deemed her audition "horrendous." By It's believed that she committed suicide. Goodspeeds mother had gone to [the sheriffs department] to report her daughter missing, and advised them that she might be suicidal, says Los Angeles police Capt. Nonetheless, she landed in 12th place in the competition, according to E! Idol Family Forever.". Paulas Sherman Oaks home is currently listed for sale, and Paula says she was glad not to be at home the day the heartbreaking event occurred. At the time, Reuters reported that prescription pills, along with CDs and pictures of Abdul, were found in the car. When Rickey Smith appeared on Season 2 in 2003, he knocked our socks off as he channeled the Motown era. Its always a hard thing to see someone you look up to take their own life. Drugs and alcohol were involved. Goodspeeds Idol audition was prominently featured by the show, and in her interview with host Ryan Seacrest, she clearly expressed her affection for Abdul. Scroll on for a look at each singer's life. Talent Recap is the only independent website that is exclusively dedicated to the fans of the most popular talent shows around the world. Tour our photo gallery below for a closer look at all of the American Idol deaths. We genuinely didn't know.'. Looking back, Paula said she wished Goodspeeds appearance on the show had gone better, especially with her fellow judge Simon Cowell. The Brooklyn native was 32 years old. Paula died in her car outside of Paula's home on November 11, 2008. He was 44. 'I have thought long and hard about this and I think that we will continue in the way we have always done, which is in the main, we have tried to have a sense of humor over the whole process.'. All contributed in some way to making the Fox-turned-ABC reality TV show what it is today. This left his family and staff on the show devastated. Whos your Favorite Star Under 35? Thinking they had come from her restaurateur boyfriend J.T. Its not like Im moving just because of this, Paula explained. Watch Access Hollywood Monday and Tuesday nights for more of Paulas interview, and check back here soon to read about Paulas relationship with new Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. She was unresponsive to officers.. Mom Debbie Collier Mentioned Accident with Mystery Truck Driver Who Was 'Out on Parole', N.J. Woman Was Found Slain in Home and Days Later, 'Person of Interest' Boyfriend Is Found Dead by Suicide, 'American Idol' Judges Through the Years in Honor of the Show's 20th Anniversary, 2000: Ending a 15-year obsession, Brooke Shields stalker is arrested, 2005: Paula finally ends her battle with chronic pain. Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng debate the big category switch by Kieran Culkin (Succession), who is now competing for Best Drama Actor. Its a wonderful night for Oscar, whenever you watch! She said I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday. Her death was covered by such major outlets as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Paula Mae Goodspeed was born July 4,1978 in Waterville,Maine by the name of Sandra Mae McIntyre and later married and had 2 boys,It wasnt until after her divorce she moved to California to try to get into the entertainment industry and changed her first name to . Jack achieved more than many people could dream of achieving.. You're like a white soul singer.". She didn't go there for looks, she went there for vocals. Its just a sad situation all around., Reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA, LIZA HAMM and KEN LEE. My address was announced and [it was shown] how you could get into my house.. "More than just the name.". Gallery originally published February 2019. I dont know why he did it, he didnt leave a note. Eight years after that interview, Smith was killed while traveling on a highway outside of Oklahoma City when a wrong-way driver hit his vehicle head-on. But a relative of Goodspeed, who knew her well, disputes the characterization of her as a celebrity stalker. She was not suicidal, says her niece, Sonja McIntyre, 20, of Maine, who last spoke with her aunt about two months ago. "He was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. 'I can't point fingers at them and say they knew everything about this person, because I don't genuinely think that was the case. 'America's Got Talent' Winners: Where Are They Now? Goodspeeds 2006 audition was not Paulas first encounter with the stalker. He became close to that years winner, Ruben Studdard. Johns toldBillboard in 2008, "My brother and sister both play piano and sing. She was a sweet person, very nice, but a little insecure.. Show history: The warm and ingratiating Smith, who had worked as a school teacher, competed on Season 2 in 2003. During the recording process, Goodspeed struggled and broke down and cried several times, Faris says, and in the end they finished only one song and left two others incomplete. ", Always In the Club, a Facebook page that shares updates about former Mouseketeers, posted a touching tribute to Lynche on their official page. All rights reserved. I was always around music growing up." On Nov. 12, 2008, Goodspeed parked her car a few doors down from Abdul's Los Angeles home and, according to Los Angeles police, died from an apparent overdose. Her mother had reported her missing, directing officers to Abduls neighborhood and expressing fears Goodspeed was suicidal. 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Although we will never know the true amount of suffering these talent show contestants had, we can talk about their great talents, and remember them for who they were. Mexican-American singer JenniRivera had been involved in several Spanish-language reality shows, and was starring in I Love Jenni on Mun2 when she was killed in a private plane crash that took the lives of seven people after it took off from Monterrey, Mexico, in Dec. 2012. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Her final performances on the show turned out to be Edge of Seventeen and Black Velvet during Top 3 week. If life's not enjoyable, why stick around?". [Im] living with security full time now, its just different. It was there that his life did a 180. Paula Goodspeed, 30, died last November after overdosing on Prozac and two other drugs, including one prescribed to treat schizophrenia. Fans of the show adore each winner from their respective seasons, but it's also easy to get attached to some of the contestants who didn't quite make the cut. She had been a stalker from [awhile back.] She swore at him and flipped him a one-finger salute. When McIntyre visited California, her aunt showed her Abduls house, but not in a way that suggested she was a stalker. Paula said her life has dramatically changed since the tragic event in November. The would-be veterinarian wailed Jefferson Airplanes Somebody to Love, much to the judges displeasure. Mark Balelo, a 40-year-old auctioneer featured on A&E's Storage Wars, died Feb. 2013, the victim of what the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office said was "asphyxiation from carbon monoxide and exhaust fumes." Before Marque "Tate" Lynche even graced the American Idol stage, he was a child star on theAll New Mickey Mouse Clubfrom 19931995, CNN reports. Baker was featured in auditions filmed in Puerto Rico. She said: 'I said, "This girl is a stalker of mine and please do not let her in. Ive been drawing ever since I was a little kid and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul., VIEW THE PHOTOS: David Archuleta Comes To Access. It was a tough pill to swallow. Paula was a fan of Paula Abdul, even to the point of her changing her name to Paula Goodspeed at age 16 and modeling her singing and appearance after her. ", An outpouring of love was sent to their families upon their death, including a message from Barrino, who tweeted, "This just doesn't seem right even saying right now but Rest In Peace Baby Girl @leahlabelle I will never forget you. Cause of death: When she was 42 years old, McKibbin suffered an aneurysm. Assistant Coroner Sarah Watson recorded that Burdett was a well rounded individual who was a vocalist by profession. Paula, originally, Sandra Goodspeed was found dead in her car, parked close to Abdul's house in what appeared to be a case of suicide. On Sept. 5, 2014, Battles boyfriend found her hung in her West Hollywood home. That didnt happen. An obsessed fan of American Idol and star Paula Abdul, Paula Goodspeed had her first name legally changed to that of her hero. On Jan. 31, 2018, LaBelle and her boyfriend, basketball player Rasual Butler, were killed in a car crash in Studio City, California. "Saying that she had a bridge in her mouth? Goodspeed was known in the LAPDs threat management system for stalking Abdul, so the police force knew exactly where to look for her. Always In Our Hearts.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? TMZ reports Smith was just 36-years-old. Goodspeed's 2005 audition is currently streaming on the Internet, and it's a typically depressing case of a troubled young woman bringing delusions of singing grandeur into the bright and . The victim's mother called 911 when her daughter didn't return home. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Its not like Im moving just because of this, Paula explained. Show history: She tried out for the 3rdSeason of American Idol at age 16 and appeared on the show as a senior in high school. According to ABC News, the 30-year-old died from an apparent overdose in Nov. 2008. Paula Abdul's Cheerleading Bowl," in which she searches for the best cheerleading squad in the country. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Speaking on U.S. daytime TV show The View on Monday, Abdul said she had been able to maintain a distance between herself and Goodspeed until American Idol provided a platform for the two to meet in late 2005. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Culkin, Strong, and ", 2023 Emmy Predictions: Limited/Movie Categories (Part 7), 2023 Emmy Predictions: Comedy Categories (Part 10). His body was discovered in a car parked in a garage at his Simi Valley auction house, days after he was arrested on charges of methamphetamine possession. Despite Abdul's claims, Cowell insisted he didn't remember her asking producers not to allow Goodspeed to audition. She also won the first season of Mo'Nique's Fat Chance pageant in 2005. American Idol judge Paula Abdul has blasted the show's producers for allowing obsessed fan Paula Goodspeed to audition, knowing she was stalking the singer. Her father believed that a deer might have been involved since she was an experienced rider. 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Take a trip back to the Academy Awards ceremonies of the recent past with Gold DerbysOscars Playbackseries. The autopsy revealed that Butler had drugs and alcohol in his system at the time of the crash. "We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence," the Idol team wrote on Twitter. Advertisement. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Iconic! Ryan Jenkins had just completed filming on Megan Wants a Millionaire, a VH1 reality show starring former Rock of Love contestant Megan Hauserman, when he met Jasmine Fiore, a swimsuit model, at a Las Vegas casino in March 2009. This singer was 28 years-old when he was found dead in the basement of his Philadelphia apartment building. Friends and family of the reality star believed that she intended to end her life. , updated Five months later, Fiore's body was discovered, badly beaten, missing teeth and fingertips, and stuffed inside a suitcase left in a dumpster in an alley in Buena Park, Calif. She was identified by the serial numbers on her breast implants. Goodspeed killed herself by overdosing on drugs in her car outside Abdul's Sherman Oaks home in Nov. 2008. This is why the celebrity world takes a major hit when reality show contestants pass away way too soon. The death of Paula Goodspeed is a tragedy, said Gina Serpe and Jason Kennedy in E! Show history: This charmer, who sang strong renditions of Light My Fire and Dream On, finished in eighth place in Season 7 in 2008. Amy Burdett was found dead at the age of 38 years-old. Kovar died in Aug. 2012 at the age of 29; an autopsy revealed that he succumbed to "opiate intoxication.". But that didnt stop her from obsessing over Idol judge Paula Abdul, even changing her name to Paula at age 16 and emulating her performing style. 'I would love to see her mentor the contestants, but if she doesn't want to do that, and she wants to come on the show and perform, I would welcome her anytime. "It's the typical brother thing that we have. Online. Her performance of Total Eclipse of the Heart in the semi-finals sent her through to the live shows. She was found laying in bed with an incision in her neck, and drug toxicity in her veins. Heres my new cell number.. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. "I wasn't ready to accept the fact that I had to come back and give up music," he told USA Today in 2008. Raiola had been a main character on the VH1 show since 2012. [UPDATING LIVE BLOG], Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Winners List: All 22 Champs in Chronological Order [PHOTOS], Emmy spotlight: Yellowjackets costume designer Amy Parris deserves first nomination for that gnarly winter gear. Paula Goodspeed (July 4, 1978 - November 11, 2008) was an American reality TV show contestant and singer best known for her season 5 audition on American Idol.Goodspeed was known for being a fan of singer and American Idol judge Paula Abdul, so much so that she changed her first name to Paula at the age of 16 and modeled her singing career and appearance after her. The Australian native grew up interested in theater, choir singing and sports including tennis and Australian rules football. Mental health awareness is so important. Paula Goodspeed did not make it past the auditions in Season 5. You have so much metal in your mouth. PEOPLE.com and the Peoples Choice Awards are counting your votes! The X Factor judge said he was saddened by the 30-year-old's death, but denied recent claims by Abdul that producers thought it would be 'fun' to allow Goodspeed to audition on the TV talent show in late 2005. Whats even more sad about this story is that her group, G.R.L. Paula said the tragic event in November has made her home vulnerable to future disturbed fans. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Oh my god she changed her name for you, and I saw her name, I got really nervous. Paula said of Goodspeed. She even had Cowell as her mentor while on the show. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Cowell said on Wednesday: 'Youre talking about a human tragedy. Cause of death was found to be cardiac arrest. According to Paula, this was not the first time Goodspeed had come to Paulas house to attempt to end her life. Goodspeeds 2006 audition was not Paulas first encounter with the stalker. He was honored by his home state of Oklahoma for his performances on the show. Toxicology results showed he tested positive for marijuana, methamphetamine, and oxycodone, and an "empty box of Don Julio tequila was recovered at the crash scene. I can't even imagine if I was right there in my home. Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation.
