Mariah: Playing From Both Sides of 'Race Card' Deck?

Clutch magazine's Erica Buddington scrutinizes the pop diva's conduct in the wake of her feud with fellow American Idol judge Nicki Minaj. Suggested Reading ‘Sinners’ Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here’s What That Means A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts The Best,…

Clutch magazine's Erica Buddington scrutinizes the pop diva's conduct in the wake of her feud with fellow American Idol judge Nicki Minaj.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

I've been taking in the feud between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, both new judges on American Idol, over the last few days. After seeing the TMZ footage, I immediately took to my Twitter to blast the brightly colored pixie for dissing the more experienced diva. Yet, we only see what we're allowed. Once the facts begun to roll in, predominately anti-Nicki, my irritation with Mariah's sympathy card grew.

After hearing that Mariah was going to "hire extra security" and that Nicki's behavior made her emotionally uncomfortable, I had to stifle the erupting laughter inside of me. Roman? Pink nails, Barbie cars, overt sex appeal, give-em'-whiplash Nicki? I was almost determined to delve into Google to make sure there wasn't another female emcee with the same name.

Over the last few days Mariah's been playing her "frightened white girl in an urban neighborhood" side of the race card. We're told that Mariah made a disrespectful comment about a contestant before the debate manifested, but all we're privy to in the footage is the explosion of Minaj and the calm of Mariah. In a phone conversation with Barbara Walters, her sudden fairytale godmother, Mariah expresses a victimized concern โ€” seemingly the innocent Mariah attacked by Nicki's "otherness." โ€ฆ

Read Erica Buddington'sย entire piece at Clutch magazine.

The Rootย aims to foster and advance conversations about issues relevant to the black Diaspora by presenting a variety of opinions from all perspectives, whether or not those opinions are shared by our editorial staff.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.