Nicki Minaj recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and denied rumors that the feud between her and fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey is fake.

The rapper/singer reassured Leno that she is one of Carey’s “biggest fans in the world,” but that sometimes the two end up fighting.

“A lot of it starts off like we’re joking,” Minaj told Leno. “We’re passionate and both crazy…and then sometimes it just goes, ‘roar,’ and you can’t really stop it.”

The two divas have reportedly been feuding since filming for this season’s American Idol began in September.

There were even reports in October 2012 that Minaj went on a rant and threatened to shoot Carey after an on-set altercation.

The new season of American Idol premieres January 16th and 17th on Fox.

Click here to watch the full interview.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.