Nick says producers stoking Nicki and Mariah feud
Aside from the occasional sharp word or look, there has been little to no drama on "American Idol" this season. With falling ratings and a lackluster group of finalists, just about the only reason for some viewers to tune in every week is to see how battling judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey will keep their simmering hostility in check.
But, according to Carey's husband, "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon, even that is made-for-TV artifice. "It's kind of unfortunate," Cannon said on Monday when he visited "The Talk" to promote various projects. "I ain't got time for that. When you see someone like my wife, who tries to remain classy and tries to take the high road, it feels like everybody else around it - including the network and the producers - feed into this whole sound bite drama. It feels like it lacks substance."
Cannon said he thinks "Idol" viewers have gotten sick of the fighting, because they tune in for the contestants, the singing and discovering new talent. "You can't even blame Nicki Minaj or her team. I feel like they fed into that. They wanted to see the drama," he said. "I think America in general is tired of seeing the mean judges and people be mean to people. They're over it. In the book of Mariah Carey, 'American Idol' will be a footnote."
A spokesperson for "Idol" had no comment on the Cannon claims at press time. And while "Idol" producers have been mum on which judges might return next year, when Cannon stopped by Los Angeles' KTLA on Monday he made it sound like his wife may not be back. "She didn't sign up for it, she's too busy trying to be the world's biggest superstar mom. She didn't sign up for that," he said of Carey's reaction to the alleged stoking of the feud. "I wish that experience could be what the show is really supposed to be about. Because she really loves these contestants and has a connection with her fellow singers."
Chivalrously remembering to promote his wife's new single, "#Beautiful", Cannon added, "It's a time when she has so many amazing things going on in her life, if there's something unstable - I think if they get it stable she might re-look at it, but no one wants to be a part of something unstable." That answer came on the same day that Radar Online reported that producers are already pursuing a different all-star panel for the 2015 season that would include Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Pink and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Cannon also revealed that his wife had a bad feeling that things might not work out early on. "My wife foreseen all of this," he said, noting that he has no proof that producers are purposely stoking the flames, but that it certainly seems like it. She tried to tell the network, 'I don't think this is going to work. I'm afraid. I don't need this. I'm doing this for the brand of American Idol and I love this show, but you're kind of taking it in the wrong direction because this is going to turn into one of those reality shows. I didn't sign up to be on Love and Hip-Hop.' " (MTV News)
|
