Was there a secret plot to replace Mariah Carey on American Idol and bring back Jennifer Lopez due to a ratings slip? INSIDE EDITION has the scoop.
American Idol bombshell!
Executives reportedly planned to drop Mariah Carey and bring back none other than Jennifer Lopez in mid-season to bring the show out of its ratings slump.
The revelation was broken by The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "Idol Panic: Secret Plot to Replace Mariah Carey with Jennifer Lopez Fails."
Sophie Schillaci, senior editor for The Hollywood Reporter, said, "Well the ratings dropped to the lowest ever since it premiered in 2002, so that really puts the heat on FOX producers to shake things up, get the public's attention again."
The plan was reportedly dropped because Carey threatened to sue if she was replaced by Lopez.
Carey is taking much of the heat for the ratings decline, with The Hollywood Reporter article calling her "passive and disengaged" as a judge.
Nicki Minaj is also coming under fire, with a source telling the website, "The core viewer is a Midwestern, Southern, older woman who is threatened by Nicki's aggressiveness."
A FOX spokesperson denied there was a secret plot to have Lopez replace Carey as a judge, saying in a statement, "This is just another ridiculous Idol judge rumor, likely started by talks of Jennifer performing on the finale."
