Mariah Carey Says She Didn't Know Nicki Minaj Sang: "I Thought She Rapped Or Whatever"

8 January 2013, 13:06 | Updated: 8 January 2013, 14:03

The 'Hero' singer has opened up about her feud with fellow American Idol judge Nicki last year.

Mariah Carey has claimed she didn't know Nicki Minaj could sing, insisting she thought the US star "rapped or whatever", in a revealing interview about her well publicised feud with the 'Va Va Voom' singer.

The 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' star, who joined the revamped American Idol panel alongside Nicki for the new season, has also admitted to Barbara Walters in a new interview for ABC News that she hired extra security in the wake of their filmed spat last year.

"It felt like an unsafe work environment. Anytime anybody is reeling threats at somebody, you know, that's just it's not appropriate," Mariah says in the new interview. "I mean, I've got two babies, I'm not going to take any chances, so yeah I did hire more security. I just felt it was the appropriate thing to do."

Mariah was also asked about the lyrics from one of Nicki's most recent songs 'Hell Yeah', which are rumoured to be aimed at the longtime pop star, in which Nicki raps: "I'm quick to check a b***h that's out of line, why these bums so mad that the queen on Idol?"

"Don't know. Don't know what she's singing," Mariah responded, when Barbara asked if she was the "b***h. "I didn't know she sang, I thought she rapped, or whatever.

"I think it's a classic, classy show and it didn't need this," the 'My All' singer added. "I really think it was just a crass moment."

Check out a picture of American Idol judge Mariah Carey performing on stage below (Credit: PA):

Nicki Minaj announced plans today (8th January) to launch her Pink Friday fragrance in the UK this spring.