Ellen DeGeneres is defending herself against the tide of public opinion that questions her hiring as the new “American Idol” judge.

“Apparently, there’s a lot of debate going on right now whether I’m qualified or not to be the new judge on ‘American Idol,’ ” DeGeneres said yesterday on her talk show.

“I’ll tell you right now, how I know I’m going to be a great judge . . . I’ve spent my whole life being judged. So I know what it’s like.”

Fans have questioned DeGeneres’ credibility as a judge on the singing competition show, since she — unlike Paul Abdul, who she’s replacing — isn’t a singer and has no direct ties to the music industry.

“I will be kind,” DeGeneres said. “I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful.

“I thought America had moved past this,” she said, playing off her well-known sexual orientation.

“First, we have the first African-American president. We’ve sworn in our first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. I think ‘American Idol’ is ready for their first blonde judge.”