AMERICAN IDOL, the most popular television show in the United States, was embroiled in scandal yesterday amid allegations that one of its judges, the singer, dancer and choreographer Paula Abdul, helped a contestant nearly half her age in exchange for sex.

In an interview scheduled to be broadcast last night, Corey Clark, a former finalist in the talent contest, claimed that Abdul had coached him privately, found him a hair stylist and gave him money for expensive clothes.

Despite her alleged help, Clark was kicked off the show during its second season because he had concealed an arrest for assaulting his teenage sister.

Abdul even “got my hair cut for me”, Clark alleges in the interview with ABC, a rival of Fox, the network that produces American Idol.

Clark, who is writing a book and recording his first album, said that Abdul had also helped him to choose songs. “She was opening my eyes to like: ‘Look, you sing this stuff. This is how you’re going to get through’, ” he said.

Their relationship, at a time when he was 22 and she was 40, was initially platonic but became sexual, according to ABC. “I want to look out after you like I’m your Mom,” she allegedly told him. Later she said: “Well, more like your sister.”

Clark said: “And I was like, ‘OK, cool, cool, cool’. ” She is alleged to have added: “Well, maybe more like your special friend.”

Clark said that he believed Abdul was “polishing that dust off the dirty diamond and helping me shine a little bit”. His parents supported the allegations, saying that she had called their home to speak to him during the competition.

ABC said that it would play a recorded phone message from Abdul in which she begged Clark not to talk about her or publish his memoirs.

Abdul, whose lawyer tried to prevent the interview being aired, said that she would not “dignify the false statements” with a response. American Idol’s producers and Fox said that they would look into any evidence of improper conduct, but noted that Clark had never raised concerns with them. American Idol, which attracts 28 million viewers, suggested that the public should “carefully examine” Clark’s motives.

Abdul’s representative issued a statement saying: “He is communicating lies about Paula Abdul in order to generate interest in a book deal.”

In the show Abdul distinguishes herself from fellow judges such as Simon Cowell, famed for his acid remarks, by always having something nice to say about everyone and occasionally weeping when a strong performer is voted off by viewers, who have the final say.

Her erratic behaviour on the show came under scrutiny recently, prompting her to publicly deny that she was on drugs and attribute her actions to a history of back problems, which cause her great pain.

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