Elton John calls ‘Idol’ voting racist

British rock star Elton John, a guest judge this month on the Fox network’s “American Idol,” said Tuesday that he found the voting by the national viewing audience “incredibly racist.”

John added his voice to a chorus of dissent that followed last week’s exit of black vocalist Jennifer Hudson, considered one of the top talents among those vying for a recording contract.

“The three people I was really impressed with, and they just happened to be black, young female singers, and they all seem to be landing in the bottom three,” said John, commenting on the tally in which the lowest vote-getter is eliminated.

“They have great voices. The fact that they’re constantly in the bottom three -- and I don’t want to set myself up here -- but I find it incredibly racist,” John said at a New York news conference promoting his Radio City Music Hall concert.

Fox declined to comment.