Ellen DeGeneres quit American Idol as she hated being mean

Chat show host Ellen DeGeneres said she quit American Idol because she didn't like hurting the contestants' feelings.

DeGeneres, 52, was a judge for just a year on the show and said her early exit came about because of guilt.

Speaking to Extra about her decision to leave the show, she said: "It was an energy that just didn't feel right to me."

She added: "I just couldn't do it... I couldn't hurt their feelings. I couldn't be completely honest, which is what that show is supposed to be."

DeGeneres is not the only judge to have left the panel as Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi have also now gone.

Rumoured replacements include Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

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