Over the course of the pandemic, two major threads of hip-hop artists have emerged: Those who have supported common-sense safety measures and efforts to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus’ spread, and those who have made light of its impacts and the efforts to slow its movement throwout vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, many of those who have cast aspersions on things like vaccines have massive platforms — which makes their reticence both disappointing and incredibly dangerous.
This afternoon, “Seeing Green” rapper Nicki Minaj addressed a fan account that noted that she hadn’t made a public appearance in over a year. “I have an infant with no nannies during COVID,” she explained. “Not risking his health to be seen.” Reasonable enough. However, the longer she addressed the conversation, the closer she toed the line, eventually revealing that she had caught COVID herself while preparing for the VMAs.
I have an infant with no nannies during COVID. who mad? Not risking his health to be seen. One yaself. https://t.co/z1uo2OHO1b
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
“I was prepping for vmas then i shot a video & guess who got COVID?” she wrote. “Do u know what it is not to be able to kiss or hold your tiny baby for over a week? A baby who is only used to his mama?” But then, she overshared, questioning the efficacy of the vaccine, saying Drake told her he caught the virus despite being vaccinated (which, is, you know, how vaccines work). She also claimed that she had the “exact same symptoms” as people who were vaccinated.
Love u babe. I was prepping for vmas then i shot a video & guess who got COVID? Do u know what it is not to be able to kiss or hold your tiny baby for over a week? A baby who is only used to his mama? “get vaccinated” Drake had just told me he got covid w|THE VACCINE tho so chile https://t.co/wInXoJcHBn
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
Babe. That’s not true. I had the exact same symptoms as ppl with the damn vaccine https://t.co/8Vg60ubZxx
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
She then started sharing vaccine horror stories from fans and ones from her family. While stories of this kind have circulated since the three different vaccines were introduced, statistically, they are rarer than people actually dying from the vaccine, which is a number in the high six figures in the US alone. Nicki said that she was “doing her own research” and well… we all know what that means.
My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won’t for the Met. It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research. I’m working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
At least she told fans to continue to wear masks — unlike another rap veteran, Busta Rhymes, who went on an anti-mask rant a few months ago. Still, it’s pretty easy to interpret her reluctance as just another extension of the hesitation lots of Black folks have unfortunately had over the past year — a hesitation that’s getting 1,000 people a day killed. Just get the damn shot, y’all. Check out some reactions as well.
Her cousin tweet is giving big Caribbean auntie WhatsApp broadcast energy…
— Pusha Bi. (@BiancaEnRogue) September 13, 2021
If you are Nicki Minaj’s cousin’s friend in Trinidad, my DMs are open https://t.co/fwOHfdf2gR
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 13, 2021
Nicki Minaj’s publicist right now pic.twitter.com/uKpULworNG
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 13, 2021
Can someone please direct Nicki Minaj to the doctors and nurses helplessly watching anti-vaxxers begging for the vaccine in their final moments because, you know, apparently there ISN’T ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF A DEVASTATING PANDEMIC FOR HER.
The absolute stupidity.
— Piya Sinha-Roy (@PiyaSRoy) September 13, 2021
Nicki Minaj’s cousin’s friend’s wedding in Trinidad was about to be like pic.twitter.com/b5OBsHmsnQ
— Mike Guardabascio (@Guardabascio) September 13, 2021
For you in particular? Because I would tailor it towards a person’s specific demographics. Age, gender, past medical history… all into consideration.
But I guarantee this, risk of #COVID is by far riskier than any #Vaccine regardless of demographic.@NICKIMINAJ, let’s talk. https://t.co/RFthiGp3eN
— Ebony Jade Hilton, MD (@EbonyJHilton_MD) September 13, 2021
Nicki Minaj tweeting stuff that will make all of our lives significantly worse… People will die. This will go on longer. Insane stans will defend it…
Cool cool cool. Social media definitely isn’t destroying the world or anything…
— Jaclyn Moore (@JaclynPMoore) September 13, 2021
As a former Medical Director of a Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic, I’ll go out on a limb here, and suggest that there are quite a few things in the epididymoorchitis differential that are more likely than a novel vaccine adverse effect. https://t.co/Qi0u9RWbsF
— David Fisman (@DFisman) September 13, 2021
Occam’s Razor suggests Nicki and her cousin are privy to partial information here.
— David Fisman (@DFisman) September 13, 2021