Ludacris to Be the “Harsher Personality” on ‘Rising Star’

Rapper-turned-actor-turned-Rising Star judge, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges feels that voting honestly is his foremost responsibility as one of the new musical competition's three judges, and he's "not afraid" of facing potential criticism for it.

During the show's live season premiere on Sunday night, the hip-hop mogul firmly established himself as the hardest to please on the panel of judges, which also includes country star Brad Paisley and pop sensation Kesha. Billboard.com says Ludacris was "often the first to shoot down a contestant with his vote, usually encouraging the other two to follow. He also voted 'no' the most throughout the... premiere."

Here's what Ludacris himself had to say:

I didn't feel bad at all. Because at the end of the day, I have to be honest with myself, first and foremost. And I don't expect everybody to agree with me. If you don't agree with me, if somebody at home has an opinion, they're not doing their job if they don't have the application because they have a say. I only have seven percent of the vote.

About potentially being seen as the show's "harsher personality," he explained:

I'm not worried about it at all. As long as I'm being honest, then it is what it is. I don't expect everybody to agree with me. I don’t' expect that any human being expects everybody to agree with them on anything! It's a hard position, but people have their opinions about me, I can't lost any sleep about it. It is what it is."

[SOURCE]