Mariah Carey Releases Statement, Nicki Minaj Cries Foul

It’s been a rough couple days for the folks over at American Idol.  While some are accusing the show’s producers of wanting this drama to erupt, others are left to shake their head in amazement at how quickly things have gone wrong.

When Mariah Carey was announced as a judge, it signaled that the executives at FOX really were trying to compete with shows like X Factor and The Voice by having current, experienced artists on the panel.  Then Nicki Minaj was added and, immediately, there were reports that Carey was threatening to walk.  The rumors were all squashed and we were all led to believe that things were going well.

Then TMZ released an explosive video showing Minaj screaming and swearing at Carey who was talking back to her but in a more low-key way.  Randy Jackson could be seen and heard trying to calm Minaj down and poor Keith Urban just sat there between the two women looking like he didn’t know what to do (he later described himself and “the UN”).

To address the situation, Carey had her publicist release a statement through Barbara Walters. Some of it said: "For the record, Mariah's doing well. She obviously still has serious concerns, but is hopeful that everyone will act in an appropriate, professional manner. She plans to move forward and she believes this season will be the best ever."

The star says that she has hired more security as a result of the threats (people claim Minaj said that if she had a gun, she’d shoot Carey) and has not received an apology. 

It’s unlikely that she’s going to get one, especially given Minaj’s response to the whole thing.  She unleashed a Twitter tirade calling Carey “Shady McGrady” and pointed out that no camera or microphone recorded her threatening her fellow judge with a gun.  She also criticised Carey for involved Walters and alluded to the possibility that the older singer is jealous because Idol producers said Minaj was the best judge since Simon Cowell.

It’s unlikely that this feud is over.  The story continues to develop…