[American Idol] Nicki/Mariah Beef Fails To Create ‘Idol’ Ratings Surge!

The feud has begun! Season 12 of American Idol premiered last night, and within the first five minutes, Nicki was already calling Mariah a ‘b*tch.’

The season 12 premiere highlighted eight Hollywood-worthy performances, but it was the cattiness between Mariah and Nicki that reeled us in from the very first minute! Within seconds of the opening credits, the fighting began.

“I wanted to bring my dog,” Mariah, 42, said when she saw 30-year-old Nicki’s drum major’s hat on the judges’ table. “We can have accessories? I didn’t know that was allowed. But that’s the last thing I’m going to say.”

“Play nice,” Nicki responded.

But did Nicki take her own advice?  Watch below:

The series’ 12th season last night opened with a 6.0 rating among adults 18-49, down 19% from the 11th Season premiere last January, and 17.8 million total viewers, down also 19%. Although it was Idol‘s lowest-rated in-season premiere, this season still looks to be epic.

Are you #TeamMariah or #TeamNicki after last night’s episode?