Nicki Minaj Chastises Devin Velez Over ‘American Idol’ Comments
Nicki Minaj didn’t take kindly to former American Idol contestant Devin Velez talking trash about his departure from the show last week, telling the 18-year-old singer to “simply b gracious” in a series of tweets.
Velez was eliminated from this season of American Idol last week after contributing to a less than stellar version of the Four Tops’ song “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” with Lazaro Arbos and Burnell Taylor. Minaj responded to the song by saying, “I’m going to pretend I didn’t see that or hear that,” and ordering the three contestants off the stage.
‘American Idol’ Recap: Keith Urban Performs, Devin Velez Goes Home
Her reaction was uncalled for, Velez said Friday in a conference call with reporters. “When she went crazy – when she was like ‘get off the stage, blah blah blah’ and it’s just like ‘whoa Miss Minaj, I need you to calm down please,'” Velez said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Minaj fired back on Twitter, reminding Velez that the judges weren’t to blame for his dismissal. “Be mad @ America when u get sent home,” she wrote. “The JUDGES are the ones who FOUGHT for America to get the opp to VOTE 4 U!!! #memba?”
She continued, “Trust me BEW BEW. If EYE didn’t want u in that TOP, YOU wldnt have been in that TOP. Fought for ALL of you. So just simply b gracious.”
The outspoken judge capped her response with a reminder that some of the biggest stars to come from Idol weren’t actually champions: “Jennifer Hudson didn’t win!!!! Oscar winner!!! #memba??? ok. Take that exposure and let your light shine.”
Velez responded in a tweet he has since deleted: “That moment when an adult stoops down to the 3rd grade level . . . LOL grow up Hun, I’ve got songs to write. 🙂 #movingforward.”