Was the Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey dustup a fake fight created to drum up buzz? One source tells The Hollywood Reporter it was:
…a high-ranking Idol insider tells The Hollywood Reporter it’s all for show. “The Mariah-Nicki diva battle is exactly what Fox executives wanted all along,” says the source, who insists the two singers are in on the joke. “No one’s really worried. They know the parts they’re supposed to play.”
But not so fast! Another source says:
But another Idol player paints a grimmer picture that allegedly included action more than words, saying, “Nicki went off and threatened Mariah.”
Nigel, is apparently, not rattled:
…the well-placed insider says Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is “well-equipped” to manage the Minaj-Carey relationship (in addition to handling judges Randy Jackson and Keith Urban). Indeed, in the grainy video (which another observer suggests was leaked by the Minaj camp), the British executive producer looks only the slightest bit rattled, and reportedly, he had the good sense to stop the day’s taping following the altercation.
THR also notes that the cast did not talk to Christina Aguilera initially on The Voice:
Worth noting: On season one of NBC’s The Voice, most of the cast wasn’t talking to fellow coach Christina Aguilera. According to host Carson Daly, who discussed this very topic on his L.A. radio show (97.1 AMP Radio) Wednesday morning, producers eventually intervened and told them to cut it out.
THR thinks the fireworks are good for the series, but I disagree. When Adam and Christina went at it last Spring, it may have contributed to their finalists–who were front runners going into the final–losing. Some friction is a good thing. But bad blood and nastiness? No way. Publicizing the personal catfights just looks desparate.
Nigel. CONCENTRATE ON CASTING THE SHOW WELL. Make it entertaining! Show the rest how it’s done! You are the gold standard. Keep setting that standard, please.
