The 48-year-old hinted that after being a judge for more than four years on the talent show, the viewers would start to tire of him so it's best for him to leave the show.
"The public eventually are gonna get sick to death of me. Nine years is probably enough to inflict on anyone," Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.
The wisecracker insisted that American Idol won't suffer in his absence, and could even get better.
"Can the show exist without me? Absolutely. It would probably get better," he added.
Text: ANI | Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images