Steven Tyler has issued an apology to Nicki Minaj for comments the rapper deemed "racist" about American Idol's new judging panel.
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During a recent interview with MTV News, Tyler said Jennifer Lopez Randy Jackson and himself -- who were last season's Idol judges -- would've developed a singer like Bob Dylan into a star if they had they actually discovered him via American Idol. He then implied Minaj may be incapable of achieving that same result with an inexperienced artist who might audition for the show's upcoming season.
Minaj subsequently slammed the Aerosmith frontman with insults and profanity for saying, "Minaj would have had [Dylan] sent to the cornfield!"
Minaj found it to be a "racist comment" and insisted Tyler was allegedly attacking her because she's a "black rapper." She added that Tyler should wear a shirt that reads "No Coloreds Allowed."
"I apologize if it was taken wrong, Nicki," Tyler told Canada's eTalk talk show on Tuesday, according to MTV News.
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"But I am the farthest thing from [being a racist]... I am the last thing on this planet as far as being a racist. I don't know where she got that out of me saying I'm not sure how she would have judged Bob Dylan."
Tyler then attempted to clarify what he meant to say in regards to Minaj's potential as a judge on the reality singing competition.
"If Bob Dylan came on the show, he would have been thrown off," Tyler told eTalk. "Maybe I spoke out of turn, but a racist I'm not, Nicki."
Minaj's representative reportedly has yet to comment on Tyler's explanation.
In addition to Minaj, Idol's twelfth-season judging panel will also feature Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Jackson -- the sole returning judge.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski