AAUW Dialog

Ok, I admit to being an American Idol watcher, especially when the countdown reaches the top ten. I tend to agree with Simon Cowell and pretty much have ignored Paula and even Randy since they seem to give the same comments year after year. And the new judge, Kara DioGuardi — I groaned when she appeared in a bathing suit (why?), thinking, sigh, did they have to resort to that old ploy to hype their program?

But hearing the uproar about Paula’s quitting and then finding out about the raises being offered to the men involved made me angrier than having a favored singer voted off too early ever did.

Let’s break it down. At the end of last season Paula asked for what was seen as a “significant” raise from her $2 million in salary (with another $1.5 million in expenses and other benefits). Paula felt this request was only fair considering the salaries of her male counterparts. Take for example Ryan Seacrest, the Idol host who just signed a contract for $10 million a year and another $15 million over three years for other production deals and rights to his image. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Simon Cowell, her other fellow judge, has a package that earns him an estimated $30 million annually, not that he really is in a pinch. Cowell also enjoys spoils from British shows The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent and the music publishing house Syco, to name a few.

Paula’s situation again brings to light what AAUW has been focusing on and fighting for on behalf of working women for decades — pay equity!

Co-written by Osob Samatar.