"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has vigorously denied accusations that she paid one of the hit TV show's contestants to have a secret affair with her.

Corey Clark, 24, is writing a book, in which he claims the 42-year-old singer paid his expenses and promised to pay $2 million towards his pop career if he kept their romance secret, reports Internet Media Database.

Clark - who was thrown off the show after TV bosses discovered he'd assaulted his teenage sister and resisted arrest - also claims Abdul threatened to ruin his music career plans if he told anyone about their relationship.

"She warned me, 'Don't screw me over or you'll be sorry'," Clark was quoted as saying. But Abdul's spokesman insists: "Paula Abdul disputes the allegations contained in Corey Clark's book proposal."