Mariah Carey hires extra security after Nicki Minaj spat

A feud between American Idol judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj heated up on Thursday (October 4) after the "Shake It Off" singer told Barbara Walters that Young Money MC threatened to get a gun and shoot her following an expletive-filled argument.

According to Walters, who spoke with Carey on Thursday morning and then relayed the converation on ABC chat show The View, the pop diva alleges that several people overheard Minaj say, "If I had a gun, I would shoot the b****" as she was leaving the Idol set following the spat, which was videotaped and later posted on TMZ.

"She is very concerned. She is with her twins," Walters said. "She doesn't feel that anything would happen. I'm quoting now, 'But Nicki is unpredictable' and Mariah says she can't take a chance and she has hired extra security."

Carey told Walters the argument began with a disagreement over a contestant's audition during a taping of the Fox singing competition series in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday (October 3). The judges then had a meeting to discuss what had happened and afterwards Minaj said to Carey, "I love you but we might fight again."

"No, we will not," Carey responded.

After The View, Minaj took to Twitter to address the gun claim. "Hey yAll. Lets just say nicki said smthn about a gun. ppl will believe it cuz she's a black rapper. Lmao. I'll then hit up Barbara n milk it," she wrote."Ironically no camera or mic heard the gun comment tho. Lol @ the struggle. Not even the producers believed u. Say no to violence barbz."

She added: "Barbara walters didn't reach out from our team barbz. I guess we're too dangerous. Don't shake if u don't wannA get shook... I don't call tmz n Barbara Walters cuz I stand on my own two feet. Never needed an army. God is good. Insecurity is as cruel as the grave.

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon. Awww, poor u. Keep them lies cmn."

Meanwhile, a "high-ranking" Idol source told The Hollywood Reporter that the feud is just a publicity stunt and both stars are in on the joke.

"The Mariah-Nicki diva battle is exactly what Fox executives wanted all along," the insider said. "No one's really worried. They know the parts they’re supposed to play."

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