If you don't know the deal, read below and then comment on whether Paula should be replaced and Idol continue with a four judge panel. Or do you think they should just let Kara be the token female? Personally, I think they should have scrapped Kara and found someone who viewers may actually care to hear from. But, such is life.

MYFOX NATIONAL reports that after months of speculation, "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has announced she will not be returning to the wildly popular talent show.

In a posting on her Twitter account Tuesday evening, Abdul wrote:

"With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1become an international phenomenon. What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me . . . It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month . . . I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all."

FOX confirmed the departure stating that Abdul was an important part of the show and said it was saddened by her decision to leave. Kara DioGuardi will return for a second season.

LATimes.com reported that Abdul's current annual salary was around $4 million, but that people close to the show say she wanted to be higher on the food chain than Ryan Seacrest and initially asked for as much as $20 million before reducing that demand to $12 million.