Paula Abdul's 911 Valentine's Day Scare
by Elizabeth Sexton
Paula Abdul may have wanted to take “two steps back” last Valentine’s Day after having to call 911 on her date.
On Feb. 14, while driving near Santa Barbara, a crying Abdul called 911, telling the operator that she wanted to go and her "cold-hearted snake" of a boyfriend wouldn’t let her.
“Are you gonna drop me off, ‘cause I have emergency on the phone?” she proceeded to ask her unidentified boyfriend.
Finally, Abdul told the operator he was taking her home and later told the police it was a minor argument that did not become physical.
Although the altercation was resolved, it parallels an assault suffered by Abdul at a private party in 2006. Reportedly, she was pushed into a wall by someone screaming at her.
While the situation puts Abdul in the spotlight, it also highlights the intended use for 911 phone calls and a blurry line between domestic altercations and personal safety.
Some are criticizing Abdul for dialing 911 over a verbal argument.
According to the National Emergency Number Association, 911 receives an estimated 240 million calls annually. Using the number for non-emergency issues or prank calls can be considered a misdemeanor offense.
In other Abdul news, the host of "Live to Dance" is rumored to be a potential co-judge with Simon Cowell on "The X Factor." George Michael, Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson are also rumored to be potential judges on the show.