Nicki Minaj: Me And Mariah Are Both Divas

Nicki Minajhas put her clash with fellow American Idol judgeMariah Carey down to the fact that they are both "divas".

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres in advance of the new series of the hit reality TV show starting this week, the rapper lifted the lid a little more on what caused the pair's infamous on-set bust-up last year.

She said: "I don't know. It was just two big old divas, I guess.

"I was just like sitting there, and I guess before I went in there I heard all the stuff that was being said, but I didn't believe it. I heard them saying 'Mariah doesn't want you on the panel' but I was like, 'No. I am friends with Mariah'."

But Minaj appeared to take some of the blame for her shouting match with Mariah - suggesting that she was trying to compete.

"I was like arguing people down. Like, 'Don't believe everything you read, you're crazy'. And so I went there and I started to feel a bit of the shade. And I just kind of overcompensated by being crazier."

The new series of American Idol starts on 5* at 8pm tomorrow in the UK.

Nicki had previously joked that she and Mariah made-up by watching her own sex tape.

CHECK OUT PICS OF NICKI, MARIAH & CO ON AMERICAN IDOL HERE!

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