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Former American Idol judge Steve Tyler is sorry that current Idol judge Nicki Minaj took his recent criticism as racist but he doesn’t know why she had that interpretation in the first place. “I am the last thing on this planet as far as being a racist. I don’t know where she got that out of me saying I’m not sure how she would have judged Bob Dylan,” the Aerosmith frontman said on Canadian TV yesterday. “I apologize if it was taken wrong, Nicki,” Tyler told eTalk. Minaj has not responded to the latest remarks.
Related: Nicki Minaj Calls Steven Tyler’s Slam “Racist”
On Monday, Tyler lashed out at Minaj and the present group of Idol judges over the way they worked with contestants on the Fox show. “If it was Bob Dylan, Nicki Minaj would have had him sent to the cornfield!” Tyler said. That comment sent Minaj into a Twitter flurry. “I understand you really wanted to keep your job but take that up with the producers. I haven’t done anything to you. That’s a racist comment,” she wrote, adding several other tweets on the topic afterward. Tyler, who was on Idol from 2010-2012, has been doing the media rounds the past few weeks promoting a new Aerosmith album. Minaj, whose feud with fellow new Idol judge Mariah Carey has been a source of speculation of late, is on tour in Australia. She’s pushing her new album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded — The Re-Up.
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Niki Minaj playing the race card for argument like this is a lazy cop out and embarrassing.
Nicki Minaj is an idiot. She’s obviously mistaken the “cornfield” comment as some sort of racial epithet, which it actually refers to an old Twilight Zone episode. Throwing out the race card like that is incredibly manipulative and insensitive. She’s the one who should apologize.
Agreed. If Tyler had used ‘cotton field’ instead, then she might have an argument. When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. She needs to expand her toolbox.
Amen. The race card is used so much today, that I laugh whenever anyone uses it. Laughter will destroy it, with the comment: “Calling me a racist is now a mark of honor. It means that you have just lost the argument.”
The race card is being played a awful lot these days.
Get a life Minaj. Publicity and a big mouth doesn’t make up for you’re awful “music.”
Amen, brother Jay. I have seen a few episodes of American Idol in the past when Steven Tyler was judging. He loves everybody! LOL. The man can’t be mean/blunt regardless of how bad some of the singers on that show were, and whether or not they were black, white, Asian, Hispanic, or “other.” I don’t deal with racists or bigots, and I particularly can’t stand a black female celebrity that tries to score points creating racial controversy where there is none. Leave that to FOX NEWS!
You’d almost think this was a manufactured controversy to stir up interest in a declining show.
My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nicky got orders to play the race card. The woman is a manufactured product who is used to saying and doing what she’s told.
Can anyone criticize a well-known black person these days without being called a racist?
Come on now, plenty of well known blacks are criticized everyday without the race card being played. But I do think Nikii Minaj is trying to escalate public tensions towards Steven by making this statement. The bizarre and moronic thing about Niki Mi-Dumb’s statement is that Bob Dylan isn’t even black. So what is she saying? That Steven Tyler is racist against whites?! There’s is something seriously wrong and damaged with this lady.
Steve Taylor has been in this business far longer than Niki Minaj will ever be and I respect that he didn’t take the argument any further. True professionalism on his part. +1 to Steve Taylor.
Did she ever blatantly state he was being “racist” or did she pose the question what makes Tyler think she wouldn’t like Bob Dylan? Obviously it was subtle but a fair question. She wants to know why he would assume things and go on a rant. Hell, I don’t even like Minaj but taking it there is just manufactured BS to get peoples jimmies ruffled.
Steven’s comments weren’t racist. Nicki is an idiot. No apology to her was necessary. And this is coming from a black guy.
Steven Tyler is redeeming himself for ever having been on that joke of a show. It’s sad to see so many of these people turn into caricatures of themselves. I was never a JLo fan but did she ever slip into desperate diva territory. Tyler became a cliche of a real rock star. Nicky Minaj has already jumped the shark and she isn’t even a vet of the industry yet.
This is what annoys me: he has nothing to apologize for. It would have been far better if he called Minaj out for playing the race card. She’s a talentless hack. It’s just my opinion, but the fact that she’s black doesn’t mean I’m racist for saying it.
Which just shows that FOX seriously needs to cancel this garbage once and for all as it’s lost its luster for the last few years time and wearing out its welcome. The hiring of Minaj or whatever her name is just solidified its future and Tyler isn’t helping any of this either.
I guess Nicki Minaj never saw the Aerosmith-Run DMC video collaboration for “Walk This Way” which went a long way toward bridging the gap between white rock fans and black rap fans. If anything, Tyler has been a crusader against racism. What has Minaj done for the cause, besides don a blonde wig to make herself look white?
I love Steve, but why did he have 2 say cornfield. Not everyone watches twilight zone. Yeah Nicki is crazy, but that was dumb of him 2 say. Cornfield – who else would the cornfield be meant for? I am not feeling that remark either. He could have said something that refers 2 crazy – which she is – not a cornfield.
Steven Tyler shouldn’t be at fault because you and she are morons. It may have started with Twilight Zone but has become a well known saying in American lexicon. You’re obviously not well read, perhaps you need to read more and write comments less.
Really? he cannot say cornfield? that is probably even dumber that Minaj taking his comment as racist.
Lina – like Minaj, you’re mixing up ‘cornfield’ with ‘cotton field’. If Tyler had said ‘cotton field’, then, yes, she might have an argument.
Bob Dylan used to play in plant fields (like his idol Woody Guthrie) for vegetable pickers. Pete Seger used to play with him during these “gigs” This was all before Dylan hit it big. It’s pretty standard history for fans of classic 50′s and 60′s rock and folk. Minaj clearly doesn’t know much in the way of music or it’s history.
Correct on all counts.
Im a black girl, and I felt the same way when I heard about this. What about his statement was racist?
Cornfield, cotton field, they’re all the same to her. Her Mom needs to explain some things to her.
Hey Niki – I finally like one of your songs (VA VA VOOM). But study your history. If Tyler was actually making a reference to slaves he’d have used “cottonfield.” Bob Dylan once stopped his tour bus by a cornfield & caught a viral infection which almost killed him. I think Steven was suggesting you were more of an executioner than a judge. . ..
Oh blah blah blah Minaj. This is what we have come to. Anytime you criticize someone who is not of your race or gender you are a _______ist. Only puzzle is why Tyler feels he has to defend himself and do the “I-am-not-a-racist” to placate this self-important dimwit.
I wasn’t a huge Steve Tyler fan while he was on the show but I respect him for taking the high road in this situation with his apology and willingness to end the “argument”. Minaj’s comments on the other hand showed her to be vulgar, ignorant, and truly embarrassing. I hate racism on all levels and her bringing up the race card so flippantly was truly racist. Fox made a horrible decision in bringing this foolish woman on the show. She takes out what little class and respect American Idol had to offer.
To be fair, I’m pretty sure every American Idol judge except Steven Tyler would send Bob Dylan home.
Why did he apologize to this tripe? I’m black and don’t think he should have! If anything,she and other crappy artists like her should be apologizing for the garbage they push off as music. Steven Tyler had more talent in the last 2 seconds than she has had in her entire life!!!!
Minaj judging singers is the death knell for Idol. It’s lost all credibility now.
Utterly ridiculous. How is it racist to send a white man back to the cornfields where he’s from?
This loudmouthed, ill-informed and vocally-challenged person is one of the principal reasons I won’t be watching AI this coming season. She’s far more irritating than even the least-talented among the usual crop of contestants.
Nicki Minaj is my idol and I love her so all those haters can just get a life!