Nick Cannon on Mariah Carey-Nicki Minaj American Idol Drama: "Theatrics" Don't Bother My Wife

America's Got Talent host tells E! News that he's "never concerned" about how Carey will handle herself in a given situation

By Natalie Finn Oct 04, 2012 1:03 AMTags
Watch: Nick Cannon Addresses Viral Video of Wife

Nick Cannon knows his wife's got talent—and that's why Mariah Carey will be great on American Idol, regardless of any festering feud between her and Nicki Minaj.

"I always say my wife is the strongest, classiest women that I've ever met in any situation. I'm never concerned about her handling herself," the America's Got Talent host told E! News today at a STOMP Out Bullying event at the Grove in Los Angeles.

Cannon of course was responding to the profane teardown Carey took from her fellow Idol judge during an audition stop in Charlotte, N.C., yesterday—a brief exchange of words that was caught on video and subsequently leaked online.

But, as rumors swirl that the verbal spat was not indicative of a greater problem among Idol's current roster of judges, Cannon insists that Carey is a pro and isn't going to be bogged down by any off-camera (or, in this case, cell phone camera) drama.

"It's unfortunate," he continued, "'cause a lot of times when you think about...why America loves these shows, it's all about people accomplishing and reaching their dreams and being guided by the experts. At times when we seem to lose our composure it's kinda disappointing, but we move on and hopefully [the conflict] isn't what the show becomes about."

Cannon said that he and Carey talked about what really went down yesterday and she has already moved on.

"My wife's not moved by the theatrics or pageantry," he said. "She's just there to do her job and help young people on this show that we've all grown to love."

What a novel idea! Meanwhile, all four judges—Randy Jackson and Keith Urban have yet to shake things up—headed back to work today in Charlotte, so it appears that the show is definitely going on, at least for now.

There's been no word of any issue on set today, so perhaps they're taking a cue from the 2010 Carey remix that Minaj loaned her hip-hop talents to—the ironically titled "Up Out My Face."

Proof that Nicki and Mariah can make beautiful, if not particularly memorable, music together!

—Reporting by James Sullivan