Keith Urban says Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj were "a bit hoodwinked" when signing contracts to appear on the ill-fated 2013 season of "American Idol."
"I think there was a sort of concerted effort to make this incredibly fricticious environment, to make the show something it was never intended to be. I really felt for both of them," Urban told the Fitzy and Wippa radio show in Australia when discussing the relationship the two had last year.
According to Urban, who appeared on the latest, and less dramatic, season of 'Idol,' producers tried to take the reality singing competition to a level that it is not meant to reach.
"Idol is just not that kind of show. I think that Jersey Shore type of mentality wasn't a good way to go," he added.
Urban was the only judge, from the 2013 season, to continue on for this year's season. It's unclear, at this point, who will return for the 2015 run of "American Idol."