14 DAY TRIAL // Randy “The Dawg” Jackson is out of American Idol after 12 seasons as judge. In a statement to E! Online, he confirms his departure, citing other projects that require his full attention as the reason behind it.
“Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on ‘American Idol’ I have decided it is time to leave after this season,” Randy says.
“I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life-changing opportunity, but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures,” he adds.
As it happens, the news comes hot on the heels of countless rumors that network bosses are thinking of firing everyone on the panel and even producer Nigel Lythgoe to bring fresh blood on the show and boost the rather lackluster ratings.
In other words, Randy might be jumping ship before he’s let go.
Just yesterday, word also got out that Mariah Carey and Randy have also parted ways professionally, after she dropped him as her manager, but the two might not be necessarily related.