NEWS'American Idol' Contestants Weigh In on Jennifer Lopez's Rumored Departure from the Show
July 5 2012, Published 2:00 p.m. ET
Although nothing has been confirmed yet, rumor has it Jennifer Lopez is considering leaving her position as a judge on American Idol — and some past contestants aren't happy about it!
OK! caught up with Season 9's Didi Benami and Season 10's Karen Rodriguez during Summer With the Stars down at Aventura Cove Palace in Riviera Maya, Mexico and they filled us in on how they feel about J.Lo's reported departure.
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"I would be so sad," Karen, who competed on the show while J.Lo was a judge, admitted to OK!. "Just her being there was such a comfort for me because she definitely had the Latina thing going on, but she was so sweet whenever she would give you advice."
"She was never mean or trying to break you down, so the show will definitely be lacking that sort of motherly, sisterly love that she gave the contestants," Karen added.
And Didi, who just released an amazing new single called "Gasoline," wasn't on the show when Jennifer was a judge, but believes the singer/actress/dancer should stay put.
"I think she should stay!" Didi told us. "I love her energy, I love how kind she is, I love how genuine she is and I love that she actually really wants to help the contestants and they can see that. And that comes across very well."
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"She’s very well spoken," Didi continued. "I think she's fabulous and she should absolutely stay on the show. That’s my ten cents!"
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As for who should replace J.Lo if she does decide to leave — Jennifer admitted herself she'd like to have more time to spend with her kids and to focus on her acting career — Karen thinks Mariah Carey would be wonderful.
"Definitely another pop diva," Karen said. "I can see Mariah Carey being a judge, I think she’d be really helpful, especially just vocally because she’d have a lot of insight as far as performing and really doing your best vocally. So definitely her."
"But I don’t want J.Lo to leave," Karen gushed. "I don’t want her to leave!"
