‘American Idol’ team “shocked” at Mariah Carey’s accusations of “abuse” on the show

Former contestants and producers respond to the singers comments

Former American Idol contestants Lazaro Arbos and Devin Velez, as well as former producer Nigel Lythgoe, have spoken out in response to Mariah Carey‘s claims that the show is “abusive”.

During a Television Critics Association press tour interview on Wednesday (August 3), during which Carey was promoting her new E! reality show, Mariah’s World, the 47-year-old singer was asked about American Idol.

“It was the most abusive experience” she responded, referring to her short stint as a judge on the singing competition in 2012, during which she was caught in a feud with fellow judge and singer Nicki Minaj.

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“You’ve just driven me to drink,” Carey told the TCA journalists after the American Idol questions as she raised a glass of champagne.

Former contestant Arbos, who appeared during Carey’s 2012 series, told Billboard: “I’m honestly shocked she said that…she was always treated with respect and courtesy from the producers.”

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Lythgoe, who was one of the producers on the show in 2012, joked in response: “I’m looking forward to Mariah’s new series and wondering if Nicki Minaj may guest.”

Arbos continued, saying he believed Carey’s comments about “abuse” on the show were directed at Nicki Minaj, whle fellow season 12 contestant Velez said: “She wanted to do her job and smile for the cameras, but it’s hard to do that when her fellow judges aren’t doing their jobs.”

Arbos finished by saying: “[Carey’s] only job was to come in, sit down in a panel and give her comments to the singers and go home and get paid 18 million dollars. If that’s abusive, then I really want to be abused by Idol!”

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