Nicki Minaj has added a new American Idol feud to her list, bashing former judge Steven Tyler for voicing his thoughts on the new twelfth-season judging panel.
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In a recent interview with MTV News, Tyler suggested the upcoming Idol judging panel -- which will feature Minaj, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, and sole returning judge Randy Jackson -- need to settle their differences and establish "camaraderie" in order to nurture new talent auditioning for the season.
After referencing how himself, Jennifer Lopez and Jackson would've developed a singer like Bob Dylan into a star had they actually discovered him, the Aerosmith frontman implied Minaj may be incapable of achieving that same result with an inexperienced artist.
"You assume that I wouldn't have liked Bob Dylan??? why? black? rapper? what? go f-ck yourself and worry about yourself babe," Minaj tweeted in response on Monday.
"When Steven 1st went on Idol he was ridiculed by his peers & fans alike. Called a sell out. So what does he do? Ridicule the next judge."
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Minaj was responding to Tyler's criticism in which he told MTV News, "I know that they've got something going on on the judges' panel, [and] it shouldn't be that, it should be just the opposite: They should have something going on, which is called 'camaraderie.'"
"They should have something going on so thick and beautiful that they can lay it over the new talent that's trying to birth itself. It needs to be birthed, not judged by 'entertainment' factors, it needs to be judged by people that [are] honest, true, that have the 'it' factor. Not the 'it' factor because they can fight. The f--- is that all about?"
Tyler went on to say young singers who try out for American Idol need support and guidance, which he explained last season's judging panel gave eleventh-season winner Phillip Phillips throughout his journey on the show.
"You just have to give your opinion. It wasn't hard for me, but I would imagine it's hard for some people, and they need a manager to say 'Shut the f-ck up, and just give them your opinion,'" Tyler told the website.
"These kids, they just got out of a car from the Midwest somewhere and they're in New York City, they're scared to death; you're not going to get the best [out of them]... If it was Bob Dylan, Nicki Minaj would have had him sent to the cornfield! Whereas, if it was Bob Dylan with us, we would have brought the best of him out, as we did with Phillip Phillips. Just saying."
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Minaj openly stated Tyler's opinions stem from alleged racist beliefs.
"Steven Tyler said I would have sent Bob Dylan to a cornfield??? Steven, you haven't seen me judge one single solitary contestant yet!" Minaj tweeted yesterday.
"I understand you really wanted to keep your job but take that up with the producers. I haven't done anything to you. That's a racist comment."
Minaj also suggested Fox dropped the Aerosmith frontman from next season's panel despite his July statement announcing he had opted to leave American Idol after "some long... hard... thoughts."
In addition, Minaj also connected her issues with Tyler to her previous problems with Carey, who told The View host Barbara Walters that Minaj had threatened to kill her while they were conducting American Idol auditions in October. Minaj had denied the death threat reports and also expressed anger towards Walters for not seeking out her side of the story.
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"LOL lets make [Tyler] a shirt that says 'No Coloreds Allowed' then escort him down 2 Barbara Walters so he can tell how he was threatened w/guns," Minaj additionally tweeted, taking a shot at Carey as well.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski