Nicki Minaj can be seen shouting at Mariah Carey at the American Idol auditions in a video posted to celebrity website TMZ on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

The video serves to validate the rumours that Minaj and Carey have been feuding during their time on the talent show, as reports suggest that both ladies would prefer to be centre of attention. "I told them, I'm not (expletive) putting up with her (expletive) highness over there," Minaj said on the video, turning towards Carey, who does offer a repost, but her part of the video is inaudible.

Keith Urban, who is seated between the two women, can be seen raising his arms to suggest his departure from the conflict, and fourth judge Randy Jackson can be heard saying "Hold up" in an apparent effort to defuse the clash. Cynical as it may be, the Idol people may be hoping this kind of thing manifests itself on stage, as nothing screams ratings louder than a diva fight, live on television.

Talking of ratings, the show is in need of a boost. The first four years were a tremendous success, with viewing figures reaching the dizzy heights of 30 million, but recent years have seen those numbers halved, and Idol bosses are desperately looking for ways in which to increase their viewership. The recruitment of Minaj as a judge is an effort to seduce the youth, but it doesn't seem to have worked just yet.