In what skeptics will dub a case of “you can’t fire me — I quit” but others will say was always part of the plan, Nicki Minaj will apparently become the latest judge to preemptively walk away from “American Idol.”
Us Weekly reported Wednesday that Minaj, who debuted on this season to mixed reviews but irrefutably-little fan fare, will not be back for season thirteen.
“It’s safe to say she isn’t coming back to Idol,” says the Us Insider, who claims Minaj will focus more exclusively on her music career. “She’s okay with it. She had a great time but was only going to do one season anyway.”
Randy Jackson officially announced his departure last week; Minaj has yet to do so, but the idea that she will not be returning is easy to fathom.
Even though FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly said the network was open to bringing back current judges Minaj, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey, he also noted that everything was on the table for next season, which will likely see a return to the three-judge panel.
Media reports have been consistent in noting FOX’s disappointment with the season’s ratings downfall and is pushing for major overhauls ahead of next year’s cycle, particularly as it relates to the latest crop of judges.
One report said FOX wanted “Idol” to re-focus on judge personalities and chemistry even if the specific judges were not current A-listers (a callback to the initial panel of Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell).
Another, however, said that the show was looking to turn up the star dial even further, throwing names like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Diddy and P!nk into the consideration pile.
“American Idol” wraps up its twelfth season with a live results show Thursday.