Nicki Minaj Scared to Watch 'American Idol' Premiere, Fears Fans will View Her as the 'Mean' Judge, Still Believes in Tough Love

Nicki Minaj is scared about the highly-anticipated upcoming season of "American Idol" - and it has nothing to do with the songstress' very-publicized "feud" with fellow diva judge Mariah Carey, but with her own "mean" self and what fans will think of her when the 12th season of "AI" premieres in January! Minaj recently admitted to popular television host Ryan Seacrest on his hit morning radio show that she's worried fans will label her as the "mean" judge for her overall nasty and unpleasant attitude towards the reality singing contestants. Minaj, who usually doesn't give a hoot about what other people think about her blunt opinions and rather harsh mouth, is even scared to watch herself on TV come January 16!

While the 29-year-old songstress explains to Seacrest that "honesty is the best policy" when it comes to the "American Idol" audition room, she admits that she might have some small regrets on having acted so brutal. The "Starships" star told Seacrest on Monday (Nov. 19) - "I'm scared. Maybe I shouldn't have been so like... It's hard for me to not say how I really feel... Everyone else is so nice. I was just thinking back about some things and I was like, 'I wonder if that was not so nice...' I don't think I'm going to be able to watch [the premiere]. I'm going to be so nervous. But I know people are going to love it. I think it's a great dynamic."

Even with such minor reservations, Minaj plans on sticking to her "tough love" ways - "As an artist I've always grown more from the tougher criticism, and so I would like to be that person and to try to help people get that thick skin and to really give it their all, because it is a competition."

And Minaj insists that fans will enjoy how all the judges work so well together on the show (yes, even her and frenemy Mariah Carey manage to put all their negative energy aside at the judge's table) - "The chemistry of the judges, I feel it while I'm there. I think it's really different from anything we've seen before on Idol and people are going to like it."

So, do "AI" fans think Minaj will make an awesome new, Simon Cowell-esque judge? Be sure to tune in when the show premieres on January 16 on Fox.