'American Idol' Premieres To Lowest-Ever Ratings: Nicki Minaj And Mariah Carey Feud To Blame?

Fights and drama between the co-judges on "American Idol" was not enough to increase ratings.

The 12th season of the hit-talent competition debuted with the lowest ratings for a season premiere of Idol, according to Entertainment Tonight.

The Fox show had a 19 percent drop among adults age 18-49.

When taping began last September for the show, it was speculated that the feud between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey was done to increase ratings.

In March, “American Idol” had the lowest-rated finale in the show's history, down 32 percent from 2011, according to Billboard.

That prompted a Fox network executive to claim there would be, "creative reinvigoration" of the "Idol" franchise this upcoming season.

But the apparent feud seems to have had the opposite effect.

Though Carey and Minaj worked together on Mariah Carey's single, "Up Out My Face," in August, when it was speculated that Minaj was negotiating a deal with the hit-talent show, TMZ reported that Carey was furious because she thought she would be the only female judge on "American Idol."

Carey allegedly was so unhappy about Minaj joining the panel that she hung up the phone on the producers when they told her about the newcomer.

Then in October, at the "American Idol" auditions in Charlotte, N.C., Minaj had a heated altercation with her co-judge as Keith Urban sat between the superstars.

“I told them I’m not [expletive] putting up with your [expletive] highness over here,” Minaj reportedly said during the interaction.

Meanwhile, Carey’s responses are inaudible in a video that was released by TMZ.

Taping for the hit-talent competition was halted after the shouting match. Viewers didn't seem impressed.

“Watched last night, Need to get rid of Nicki, she will be ruining the show, if you want people to watch this season she needs to go ... I am not interested in watching the judges stabs at each other.

"If no changes are made I think you will be losing lots of viewers..” one watcher said.

While "American Idol" had its lowest season premiere, it is still the top show compared with other unscripted series, Entertainment Online reported.