But it isn't terribly likely that LaBelle was targeting DeGeneres specifically, as her discontent seems directed towards the offensive remarks made by judges. "The comments that were made, they could make you, like, want to kill yourself," LaBelle said.

LaBelle said that given the chance she'd take a different approach in helping to cultivate the young talent featured on the show. "If you believe in yourself, just go for it," she would advise the show's contestants. "What do you have to lose? And when people tell you, 'You can't,' you have to say, 'I can.' "