Paula Abdul calls Simon Cowell `fungus` who she `avoids like the plague`

Abdul had a famously combative relationship with Cowell while they were judges on American Idol, and insists it was like that in real life.

'It was definitely tortuous,' she told Ellen DeGeneres of their relationship.

'Definitely love hate - to the sense that when we are on the hating side I will actually cross the street and walk on the other side, I avoid him like the plague.

'But you know... he's like acquired taste. He's like fungus - he sticks around a long time and then finally you just surrender to it.'

Of her surprise appearance at a special show to say goodbye to him, she recalled: 'He was so shocked - he actually started welling up, and I always like to make Simon cry.'

As well as talking about Cowell, Abdul's appearance on DeGeneres' show created real awkwardness as DeGeneres had taken over for Abdul when she left American Idol.

'Was it weird - you left the show, and I kept trying to explain to people, 'I didn't take her job - she was gone'. But I felt weird.'

'I can watch the show objectively. I can watch the show as a fan as I normally do,' Paula insisted. 'I thought you did a very good job - you handled yourself with poise and with elegance.'