'American Idol' Feud: Stevie Nicks Apologizes for Saying She'd Strangle Nicki Minaj

Posted October 10, 2012, 3:33 pm   •   by Lily Harrison   •   3 comments

Stevie Nicks is eating her words.

The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman had much to say about the now-famous feud between American Idol judges Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. Commenting on Minaj, Nicks had told The Daily, “How dare this little girl! If I had been Mariah I would have walked over to Nicki and strangled her to death right there.”

Now the "Stand Back" singer is offering a mea culpa.

“I want to apologize for my remarks about Nicki Minaj’s behavior toward Mariah Carey, which I said during a long and exhausting day of interviews,” Stevie said in a statement to Celebuzz.

“It was very out of character for me and I deeply regret what I said. I feel very protective toward Mariah Carey, who has gone through many difficulties in her life, and I spoke without thinking. I think all artists should be respectful toward one another, and that includes me. I am truly sorry.”

Nicks’ comments stemmed from a video that captured Minaj erratically cursing out Carey during auditions in Charlotte, N.C. As the rapper threw threats in the superstar's direction — shouting “off with your head” and “I will knock you out” — Carey remained calm and carried on with the job at hand: judging the Idol hopefuls.

While the bad blood has generated headlines and hype around the show, some suspect the fracas is no more than a publicity stunt.

“I think right now, because the show isn’t airing, they are trying to keep the buzz up,” Season 3 contestant Diana DeGarmo told Celebuzz. “I think it’s just a case of them causing a stir to get people excited to see it. Then when it starts, it’ll be back to the contestants.”

Former Idol judge Steven Tyler and Cee Lo Green of rival music competition show The Voice have also expressed skepticism.

What do you think of Nicks’ apology? Sound off in the comments section below.