Mariah Carey & Nicki Minaj's 'American Idol' Casting Was a 'Major Failing,' Says Nigel Lythgoe

American Idol‘s former producer Nigel Lythgoe is speaking out about the show’s cancellation and why he thinks hiring Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj was a mistake.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he told Billboard. “I’m a huge fan of boxing, and it’s like when you’re watching a real heavyweight boxer getting to the end of their career, and all these young whippersnappers are coming up: You’ve got to know when to retire.”

Nigel says that the show was key for Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler‘s careers, but not for the other two.

“Mariah and Nicki was just crazy, and then it really started becoming about the judges and took away from the contestants altogether,” he said. “I think that was a major failing on the part of casting to have those two together. On their own, either one may have been successful.”

WHAT DID YOU THINK of Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj as judges?