The newest season of American Idol does not premier until January of 2013. However, we are already hearing rumors of disputes between new judges, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. The most recent battle came during an audition session in North Carolina. Luckily, the cameras always seem to be rolling when it comes to reality television, and it was all caught on tape. TMZ spreads the viral video for the world to enjoy.

Cursing at Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj threatens to knock her out. Stoking the flame and escalating the fight, Carey remarks, “Oh why, why do I have a three-year-old sitting around me?” Senior judge, Randy Jackson tried to calm the situation, calling multiple times for a “time out”. All the while, novice judge, Keith Urban sits in shock unsure how to react.

Since the beginning, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey have been unable to work with each other on the show. Though Nicki has only been with American Idol for about a month, it’s almost certain that either her or Mariah will get cut before the end of the season – perhaps before the show premiers in January. As the show ages (10 years now) it seems as though celebrity judges come and go. Pretty soon the fading show will be out of compatible, new judges and may have to consider a new direction.