Diddy Denies Turning Down ‘American Idol’ Because Of Jennifer Lopez

A lot of rumors are flying around about Sean “Diddy” Combs and American Idol these days, causing his reps to set the record straight on his reasons for not getting involved in the popular competition show.

The biggest rumor lately is that Diddy turned down an offer to become an American Idol judge because of his past relationship with Jennifer Lopez. The two dated in the ’90s, but split following an arrest connected to a shooting in New York in 1999.

Though it’s not for sure yet, multiple outlets are reporting that Lopez will return to Idol as a judge alongside Keith Urban, leaving one judges’ chair open. Given their history, the gossip mill reported that Diddy turned down the opportunity to fill that seat.

Us Weekly says he was even close to signing, but after news of Lopez’s return started making headlines, he abruptly dropped negotiations because he felt it became a ” ‘her or me’ situation,” a source told the mag.

In addition to his former relationship with Lopez, he reportedly didn’t want to sour relations with her manager Benny Medina, who used to be Diddy’s own manager.

But a rep said that Combs’ decision to decline a judge spot on American Idol because of Jennifer Lopez is “not true.”

Lopez herself is reportedly interested in getting Justin Bieber’s manager Scott Braun to fill that last seat, but the show’s producers want hit record producer Dr. Luke to join the show’s 13th season instead.

In addition to Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson is also leaving the show, but will serve as a mentor for the upcoming American Idol season.

Do you think that Diddy would have made a good American Idol judge?

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