Nicks apologises over Idol comments

Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks has apologised for saying she would have strangled Nicki Minaj "to death" if she were Mariah Carey.

Footage recently emerged online of new American Idol judges Nicki and Mariah clashing during auditions and Mariah accused Nicki of threatening to shoot her during a row, which the Starships singer later appeared to deny in a tweet.

Stevie, 64, jumped to friend Mariah's defence, telling The Daily: "How dare this little girl! ... If I had been Mariah I would have walked over to Nicki and strangled her to death right there. I would have killed her in front of all those people and had to go to jail for it."

But Stevie has now stepped down, releasing a statement which said: "I want to apologise for my remarks about Nicki Minaj's behavior toward Mariah Carey, which I said during a long and exhausting day of interviews. It was very out of character for me and I deeply regret what I said.

"I feel very protective toward Mariah Carey, who has gone through many difficulties in her life, and I spoke without thinking. I think all artists should be respectful toward one another and that includes me. I am truly sorry."