Keith Urban Says He ‘Was the U.N.’ in Carey/Minaj ‘American Idol’ Fight
Keith Urban has spoken out about the cat fight heard 'round the world. At a film premiere in New York last night, the country star responded to a reporter's questions about the confrontation that took place Tuesday between fellow 'American Idol' judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, saying he was the United Nations in the situation.
Video of the incident went viral yesterday after gossip site TMZ first posted it. According to their sources, the argument began when the two divas disagreed about a contestant's performance, then escalated into a verbal free-for-all. The clip shows Urban literally caught between the women, as Minaj directs a barrage of profanity at Carey.
"Yeah, I was the U.N.," Urban told Extra TV, laughing. "Switzerland!" his wife, Nicole Kidman, interjected.
The country star said the incident hasn't soured him on the show. "I love it," he admits. "I gotta say, I love working with passionate people. I love artists, and I like everyone just sort of expressing themselves. It's a very alive, very invigorating work environment."
Despite the backstage drama in Charlotte, Urban said the auditions went "really good." "We just spent the last two days in Charlotte, and a lot of good singers in Charlotte," he reveals. "North Carolina's got a great history of great artists, anyway, so they did well."