Kanye West isn't the only rapper to pass on American Idol in recent days, apparently.
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Although Combs and Lopez dated over a decade ago, according to an Us insider, the rapper and producer turned down the Idol opportunity because he "felt it was a 'her or me' situation."
If that's really the case, the pair must not be on the greatest terms after all these years and Idol producers preferred Lopez in the draw, as her current boyfriend Casper Smart accidentally revealed earlier this week she will be returning to the reality singing competition next season.
Combs also reportedly wanted to steer clear of Lopez's manager Benny Medina, who previously managed the rapper before the two parties went their separate ways a few years ago.
Combs' representative, however, told Us the insider's claims are "not true" and Lopez and Medina are not the reasons behind the decision.
Lopez and Combs dated from 1999 to 2001 when he was formerly known as Puff Daddy. After they called it quits, Lopez moved on with actor Ben Affleck.
Lopez judged American Idol's tenth and eleventh seasons in 2011 and 2012 before taking last season off to focus on her music career. Prior to Smart letting the cat out of the bag regarding Lopez's upcoming Idol participation, reports surfaced earlier this month she was "very close" to signing a deal to return as a judge.
Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly simultaneously had also confirmed the network had been in negotiations with Lopez as part of his announcement Keith Urban will be coming back to the judging panel.
Urban will be continuing his stint on American Idol after appearing as a newbie judge last season alongside Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and veteran judge Randy Jackson -- all of whom won't be returning to the show.
West reportedly turned down his offer to serve as an Idol judge as well because "he didn't want to go that mainstream," a source told Us. "He didn't want to lose any street cred."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
