S. Samuel
Grammy-winning diva Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj have apparently had enough of "American Idol" and decided to leave their posts as the show's celebrity panelists after only one season.
After mounted buzz and speculation, Mariah’s decision to call it quits sprouted online Thursday (May 30).
Mariah Carey just made it official — she will NOT be back at the “American Idol” judges’ table for a second season … just as everyone expected. Mariah’s PR people announced her exit … before further confirming rumors that ‘AI’ producers want to make a clean sweep for next season. As we previously reported … ‘Idol’ is extremely interested in bringing back Jennifer Lopez to judge next season — and keeping Mariah and J.Lo would clearly be a bad fit … and a pricey one at that. No official word yet on Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj — but Randy Jackson already announced he won’t be back. (TMZ)
Shortly after Mariah’s announcement, Nicki revealed she would also part ways with the show.
Rapper Nicki Minaj followed Mariah Carey’s lead on Thursday afternoon, announcing via Twitter, “Thank you American Idol for a life changing experience! Wouldn’t trade it for the world! Time to focus on the Music!!! Mmmuuuaahhh!!!” Randy Jackson had previously announced his exit from the show, leaving only Keith Urban who has yet to confirm whether he’ll be participating in season 13 of the Fox show. (Hollywood Reporter)
Earlier this month, Minaj spoke on Carey’s alleged issues with her.
“Imagine someone you loved your whole life. Imagine meeting them and then, all of a sudden, feeling like you did something horrible to them but you just don’t know what you did,” Minaj said in an interview when asked about her relationship with Carey. “That’s what my relationship with Mariah is and that’s what it’s been from the beginning. I just thought that we were really friends but that’s the other thing I learned. This industry is so fake. You walk away thinking people are your friends and they’re not.” (E!)
Back in February, Nicki’s Cash Money boss Birdman weighed in on the publicized feud.
As the judges on “American Idol” are working toward narrowing down the top 24 contestants, some still wonder how Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey will fare together when the show starts to go live. Though they have had not-so-kind words in the past, Bird doesn’t believe there is a problem at all. “I don’t consider it beef, they both getting paid to do a job and they’re just doing their job,” he said. “Ain’t nobody get hurt, so it ain’t no big deal.” Nicki’s progression as an artist and a businesswoman is much more interesting to Baby, who gives Minaj his full support. “I saw the whole play, been a part of it so I think it’s amazing. We ain’t never had a female in the business to accomplish what she’s accomplishing, period,” he said. “I never saw a woman in this business, especially in my time of doing this, work as hard as her.” (MTV)
