‘X-Factor’ shake-up: Paula Abdul, Nichole Sherzinger out

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: (L-R) Judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger pose at The X Factor Press Conference at CBS Televison City on December 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)

Paula Abdul is leaving Fox’s The X Factor.

So is fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger.

And so is host Steve Jones.

Sources near the show confirm all three stars will not return for X Factor‘s second season next fall, though Fox has only officially acknowledged the departure of Jones and Scherzinger. The stunning X Factor exodus marks a dramatic day of network reality show bloodletting.

Full story: ‘X-Factor’ shake-up: Paula Abdul, Nichole Sherzinger out