Nicki Minaj American Idol, Rapper Leaving To Focus On New Album And Endorsements

Nicki Minaj will be leaving American Idol at the end of the current season.

Sources close to the star confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday that the SuperBass rapper would not be returning as a judge. Minaj would instead be focusing on her next album, touring and endorsements. Minaj's career would instead become her top priority.

"It's safe to say she isn't coming back to Idol," the source said. "She's okay with it. She had a great time but was only going to do one season anyway."

Minaj joined the singing competition in September 1012 to much fanfare. The flamboyant rapper considered her addition to the show as a milestone because she claimed that there had never been a black woman judge. She also expressed fear over her new responsibilities to mentor new talent. She also worried what other people would have to say about any judgment calls.

"I continue to make the decisions that people don't have the balls to make. And that's what separates me from everybody else," she told MTV.

Minaj felt that her tenure on the show would be able to open doors for others. She saw herself as paving a way for those who would be intimidated by the opinions of others, but audience watchers ultimately took exception to her judging style. A 'Remove Nicki Minaj from American Idol' Facebook was created and had more than 18,000 likes as of Wednesday. The group said she was a disgrace and not worthy enough to be on the judges panel with Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson.

"Not only does she lack the credentials and talent to actually judge singing - her poor image is a disgrace to the entertainment industry," the group statement read.

Officials at Fox reportedly took note of Minaj's abrasive nature and believed it was a contributing factor to the dip in viewership. This season of Idol has been its lowest rated. In April, The Hollywood Reporter detailed that there was a plot to remove both Carey and Minaj from the canvas. The show runners felt that many of Idol's core viewers were turned off Minaj and therefore turning out.

"The core viewer is a Midwestern, Southern, older woman who is threatened by Nicki's aggressiveness," a source said.