Randy Jackson Punches Hopeful

RANDY Jackson was left embarrassed after he accidentally punched an American Idol hopeful in the face.

The 54-year-old looked like he was vying for former judge Simon Cowell's Mr Nasty title when he hit Molly DeWolf Swensen.

Clumsy Randy had been trying to give high-fives to hopefuls in the crowd when he accidentally struck the 22-year-old at auditions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Molly DeWolf Swensen

But the Harvard graduate and White House intern told the embarrassed judge: "Randy I got to call you out for one second.

"This morning you were really excited so I don't know if you noticed but as you were running down the line high-fiving everyone you totally missed and kind of punched me in the mouth."

Molly, who sung Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay for her audition, added: "I hope you don't add insult to real injury."

The judge initially didn't believe he was responsible but he was set right when he was shown a clip of him whacking Molly in the mouth.

Molly showed she saw the funny side by donning a made-up black eye and a missing tooth after being sent through the audition stage by judges Randy, Aerosmith's frontman Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez