Nicki Minaj insists she tries to get on with her American Idol rival Mariah Carey, even though she "definitely doesn't like [her]."

Carey and Minaj joined the coveted reality show's judging panel this season alongside Keith Urban and returning mentor Randy Jackson.

The series has been rocked by reports of a feud between its new female judges, with spats between the pair shown on the audition stages of the new American Idol season.

Minaj appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's show, where the host probed: "A lot of people don't like their co-workers at their offices, but your office is on television and so when you have skirmishes everyone sees them. And clearly, you and Mariah Carey do not like each other."

Minaj responded: "I wouldn't say I don't like her, I definitely don't think she likes me. I try, as I looked up to her for a long time, so I don't want to hate on this lady, but she had an issue from the beginning. We're having fun though.

She added: "I genuinely like going there, even Mariah and I, we really do have fun."

Minaj also took to a special outdoor stage to perform hits 'Va Va Voom' and 'Freedom' to a screaming audience.