Extra correspondent Terri Seymour, who dated Cowell for several years, was not injured.

Janice Thibodeaux, 33, remained jailed Wednesday on nearly $54,000 bail for suspicion of felony battery, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Norma Eisenman.

Eisenman said officers saw Thibodeaux try to choke Seymour as she was leaving the Nokia Theater, where American Idol is shot.

Officers chased Thibodeaux for a short time before catching her, Eisenman said.

"It was all so sudden," Seymour said in an Extra interview Wednesday. "Very scary."

She said the woman asked her if she was on television and when she answered yes, Thibodeaux grabbed her. "The next thing I know, this woman had me in a headlock and tried to choke me," Seymour is quoted as saying.