Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj didn’t disappoint during their appearance at the Telelvision Critics Association press tour in Pasadena yesterday. While each did their best to be on good behavior, and tried to keep the focus on the singers, they couldn’t help but let show a little bit of the acrimony that is glaringly more than just hype for the new season of “American Idol”. Mariah and Nicky joined fellow judges Keith Urban and Randy Jackson on the press panel to answer questions about the upcoming premiere of “Idol”, but couldn't help but field inquiries about their famous feud. Today MTV said of the event that it looked as though Carey and Minaj made “awkward peace” during the question and answer session.
Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj made nice for the most part during Tuesday’s press event, but there were moments when the tension was palpable. When asked about the infamous feuding between the two divas, “…Mariah referred to the fight as ‘one-sided’, Minaj quickly hit back, saying, ‘No, it wasn't’”.
But when Nicky was asked say something nice about Mariah, she said, “That actually is easy. I say nice things about Mariah all the time, and I even tell her all the time how much of a fan I am of her”.
Minaj added, “She’s one of my favorite artists of all times…and to be on a panel with her, it’s kind of crazy”, according to Reality Blurred.
Mariah seemed to struggle a bit when she was asked to say something nice back to Nicky. She talked about an early song collaboration between them being, “one of my favorite videos and songs”.
Then Carey finished by saying, “I’m grateful for anything nice that she or anyone were to say about me”.
Not quite glowing praise, in effect Mariah said she really liked a song they worked on together, and she was thankful that Minaj said nice things about her.
Nicky Minaj is also earning some high praise today for some other “American Idol” related things she said during the TCA presser. She emphasized the need to focus on the contestants, and reiterated how she was not going to introduce rap to the singing competition.
“I don’t feel the need to send a person through just because of a great story or because there’s something going on that may make people cry”, Nicki said. “I feel like even the great singers have stories that may make us cry, but that shouldn’t change our decision because it’s kind of unfair to the ones who really are great”.
The L.A. Times reported Nicki's views on the rap angle. “This is definitely not a rap competition, and when I got involved with ['Idol'], I specifically said I hope they didn’t try to do that because I was on the show. America loves that it's an honest singing competition and I’m not here to change that, I’m here to judge”, Minaj said.
By the end of the interview, Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj agreed on one point, that the “bitch-fighting” is undercutting the singing hopefuls, according to Metro. “The whole thing is convoluted. It’s a distraction from the show and a distraction from the contestants”, said Mariah.
Minaj agreed adding, “Every time we try to talk about the contestants, we have to field questions about [this]”.
Season 12 of American Idol premieres Wed. Jan 16 at 8:00 p.m. EST on Fox.
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