Nicki Minaj Faces Backlash After TPUSA Appearance
Credit: Gregg DeGuire, Getty Images
Rapper Nicki Minaj is facing backlash from fans, supporters, and critics for her appearance at Turning Point USA’s America Fest convention. Fans and critics are rallying for her cancellation and calling for her deportation. The backlash stems from animosity towards TPUSA’s co-founder, Charlie Kirk, who previously criticized Nicki Minaj, black culture, black women, and rap music.
Following the release of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s song ‘WAP,’ Kirk went on record saying, “Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, I don’t think that’s a good role model for 18-year-old Black girls.” Kirk has also made targeted remarks about members of the LGBT2A+ community, who make up a considerable number of Nicki Minaj’s supporters.
Kirk is considered a bigoted racist by many members of various communities because of his remarks. Members of these groups believe that TPUSA is a far-right and white supremacist organization. Moreover, Kirk’s statements and beliefs about the LGBT2A+ community led to his assassination last year at Utah Valley University. Nicki Minaj’s recent affiliation with Conservatives and Republicans is seen as betrayal. The pop star’s November appearance at the United Nations in New York for the US intitally spurred the backlash.
The backlash isn’t simply a case of guilt by association. Nicki Minaj’s statements at AmFest added fuel to the fire. She praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance and believes that they’re “amazing role models for young men.” The ‘Starships’ rapper regarded the Trump administration as “full of people with heart and soul” who make her “proud.” Her support for President Trump is problematic, as 92% of black women voted against Trump, and black women primarily make up her fan base.
Fans and critics swiftly took to social media to express their thoughts on her political switch. TikTok users made videos to cancel the Grammy-winning artist because of her husband and brother. Both men have criminal charges as sexual offenders. Users like _iamjamila believe that the rapper is coon and is a pawn who betrayed black women and immigrants. Others such as theantihrhrlady, suggest that Nicki Minaj is using these appearances to make money because she can’t support her lifestyle.
Thousands have signed an online petition to have the ‘Super Bass’ rapper investigated and deported from the United States. Tristan Hamilton, a 16-year-old activist, started the Change.org petition, which received over 37000signatures as of this article’s writing.
Nicki Minaj is still active on social media despite backlash. People thought she removed her Instagram Page following the December backlash. However, the ‘Moment 4 Life’ rapper shut down the page earlier in October. Minaj is still postingon X (formerly Twitter) and her other social media pages.
She has not apologized or directly addressed fans about the controversy on social media. However, Nicki Minaj reposted an X post with a video clip from her AmFest appearance where she “didn’t notice” the backlash she received from her own industry. Her caption for that repost was “Didn’t have a clue. Carry on.”
