American Idol Producer: Nicki Minaj And Mariah Carey Feud Not A Ratings Ploy

After reports have been released that American Idol was trying to hype up the upcoming season with leaked footage of Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey feuding, head producer Nigel Lythgoe is denying that its all a stunt. When MTV caught up with Lythoe last week and was asked about what might be American Idols biggest ratings ploy, Nigel denied that the beef wasnt anything but real.

Lythgoe said, I have no idea why I would be doing it [for ratings] five months before the show went out. So theyve got to realize I would only do anything for ratings a month before the show went out. Theyve got my timing wrong.

Whos the they hes referring to, you ask? Well, it might be former judge and current naysayer Steven Tyler. Tyler who has publicly lambasted the show in the past spoke out about whether or not he thought the fight was staged, to which he said, Of course, are you kidding?

Since news of the fight broke out there hasnt been news of other subsequent fights, but neither side has offered a public apology either. However, according to Lythgoe they arent as bad as the media paints them to be. They were amicable that afternoon, Lythgoe said. And I think before anybody makes any judgments they should see the show.

The only person connected to camp Mariah that has spoken about the fight, in which Careys life was threatened by Minaj, is husband Nick Cannon, who chalked it all up to theatrics. However, ! its the shows long running host Ryan Seacrest that admitted on his own radio show that the fight had went too far.

What do you think? Was the fight and subsequent leak staged?