Tyler says sorry to Nicki Minaj, but denies being racist

Nicki Minaj is in a war of words with Steven Tyler.

Steven Tyler to Nicki Minaj: Sorry, but a racist I am not.

Days after the feisty rapper gave Tyler a no-holds-barred tongue lashing on Twitter for criticising her role as an American Idol judge, the Aerosmith frontman has issued an apology.

Last week, during an interview with MTV News, former Idol judge Tyler gave Minaj short shrift and slammed the new judges on the show.

"I know that they've got something going on on the judges' panel, [and] it shouldn't be that, it should be just the opposite: They should have something going on, which is called 'camaraderie,'"he said, referring to the headline-grabbing feud between Minaj and Mariah Carey.

"They should have something going on so thick and beautiful that they can lay it over the new talent that's trying to birth itself. It needs to be birthed, not judged by 'entertainment' factors, it needs to be judged by people that [are] honest, true, that have the 'it' factor. Not the 'it' factor because they can fight. The f**k is that all about?"

Tyler, 64, then implied that Minaj wouldn't be able to spot talent if it stood before her.

"You just have to give your opinion. It wasn't hard for me, but I would imagine it's hard for some people, and they need a manager to say 'Shut the f**k up, and just give them your opinion,'" Tyler said.

"These kids, they just got out of a car from the Midwest somewhere and they're in New York City, they're scared to death; you're not going to get the best [out of them]. ... If it was Bob Dylan, Nicki Minaj would have had him sent to the cornfield! Whereas, if it was Bob Dylan with us, we would have brought the best of him out, as we did with Phillip Phillips. Just saying."

Listen to Tyler's MTV interview below:

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'GO F**K YOURSELF AND WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF BABE'

Minaj fired back with a Twitter rant, accusing Tyler of racism.

"Steven Tyler said I would have sent Bob Dylan to a cornfield??? Steven, you haven't seen me judge one single solitary contestant yet," she wrote.

"I understand you really wanted to keep your job but take that up with the producers. I haven't done anything to you. That's a racist comment. You assume that I wouldn't have liked Bob Dylan??? why? black? rapper? what? go f**k yourself and worry about yourself babe."

Later, she added, "LOL lets make him a shirt that says "No Coloreds Allowed" then escort him down 2 Barbara Walters so he can tell how he was threatened w/guns.

"When Steven 1st went on Idol he was ridiculed by his peers & fans alike. Called a sell out. So what does he do? Ridicule the next judge."

But Tyler insists his comments weren't racially motivated, telling Canadian entertainment show eTalk that Minaj has got the wrong end of the stick.

"I apologise if it was taken wrong, Nicki ... but I am the farthest from [being a racist]."

He added, "I am the last thing on this planet as far as being a racist. I don't know where she got that out of me saying I'm not sure how she would've judged Bob Dylan."

Tyler added, "Maybe I spoke out of turn...But a racist I'm not, Nicki."

Last month, footage of Minaj engaging in a verbal spat with fellow Idol judge Carey hit the net.

Gossip website TMZ posted video of Minaj, 29, hurling F-bombs at the pop diva, 42, after a disagreement about a contestant's audition.

A source said at the time: "Nicki Minaj walked off of set because Mariah Carey kept making jabs at her.

"Nicki's manager and team convinced her to come back to the show. Mariah kept at it and called Nicki 'a b**h' and then proceeded to cuss her out. Producers had to stop filming and call it a night."

What followed was Minaj's expletive-filled rant caught on tape, with fellow panelists Keith Urban and Randy Jackson caught in the middle.

'IF I HAD A GUN, I WOULD SHOOT THE B***H'

The dispute became even more heated, according to veteran TV presenter Barbara Walters.

The View co-host said Carey claimed multiple people overheard Minaj ranting, "If I had a gun, I would shoot the b**ch" during their throwdown.

Carey told Walters that she "doesn't feel comfortable emotionally" after the clash and hired extra security as a result.

"She is very concerned. She is with her twins," Walters said. "She doesn't feel that anything would happen. I'm quoting now, 'But Nicki is unpredictable' and Mariah says she can't take a chance and she has hired extra security."

Minaj, however, claims she never made the threat.

"Hey yAll. Lets just say nicki said smthn about a gun. ppl will believe it cuz she's a black rapper. Lmao. I'll then hit up Barbara n milk it."

Minaj continued, "Ironically no camera or mic heard the gun comment tho. Lol @ the struggle. Not even the producers believed u. Say no to violence barbz."

The next season of American Idol will begin on January 16 in the US.

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- Rumour Has It