NEW YORK, N.Y. – Steven Tyler is apologizing — if Nicki Minaj misinterpreted his recent comments.

The former “American Idol” judge and Aerosmith frontman responded to Minaj’s claim that he’s a racist.

Minaj took offence to comments Tyler made during an MTV interview in which he said Bob Dylan would likely be immediately dismissed from this year’s show.

“Idol” premieres Jan. 16 on the Fox network with Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban serving as new judges. The rapper called the comment racist and fired an expletive at the Aerosmith frontman, as well.

During an interview with the Canadian entertainment news program “eTalk,” Tyler spoke directly to Minaj, saying: “I apologize if it was taken wrong, Nicki.”

“I am the farthest from — what did she say I was? — a racist,” Tyler said in the interview. “I’m the last thing on this planet as far as being a racist. I don’t know where she got that out of me saying I’m not sure how she would have judged Bob Dylan. I was just saying that if Bob Dylan came on the show, he would’ve been thrown off, so maybe I spoke out of turn. But a racist I am not, Nicki.”

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