Nicki Minaj gets backlash over vaccine post on Twitter
(Picture: Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)On Monday night, the annual Met Gala took place in New York City with many celebrities in attendance.
This year’s event had a vaccine mandate in place, meaning all guests were required to show proof of having had a Covid-19 vaccination this year, in keeping with New York City rules.
Rapper Nicki Minaj, who would typically have attended the gala, explained on Twitter that she has not been vaccinated, citing a bizarre and unfounded story of a cousin’s friend who claims his testicles became swollen.
In a viral tweet, Minaj said: “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.”
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
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Despite having 22 million followers, Minaj’s unfounded claims have been allowed by Twitter to remain on the social media site for over 18 hours.
Twitter has faced criticism, with many asking the Twitter Support account why it is still online and why it has not been marked as disinformation.
.@TwitterSupport why is this tweet still up?
— Scott Carmichae1 (@SCarmichae1) September 13, 2021
@TwitterSupport maybe you could, I don't know, put a misinfo label on this one?
— Matt (@mattdwille) September 14, 2021
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “no evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause male fertility problems”.
Minaj has been called out for spreading anti-vaxx disinformation that may prevent others from getting the potentially life-saving vaccination.
MSNBC host Joy Reid spoke about the incident on her show ReidOut, saying, “I’ve reached my limit” begging anti-vaxxers to take the vaccine.
.@JoyAnnReid responds to @NICKIMINAJ's tweets on the #COVID19 vaccine: "For you to use your platform to encourage our community to not protect themselves and save their lives... As a fan, I am so sad that you did that." #TheReidOut #reiders pic.twitter.com/nmr85LSmug
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) September 13, 2021
Reid said: “In the end, I’m done hand-holding people, too. I’ve reached my limit. I’ve reached my limit. I’m not begging anyone else.
“People like Nicki Minaj, you have a platform that is 22 million followers. I have two million.
“You have 22 million followers on Twitter. For you to use your platform to encourage our community to not protect themselves and save their lives, my God, you could do better than that.
“It’s a blessing. It’s a blessing that you got that. That people listen to you and they listen to you more than they listen to me.
“For you to use your platform to put people in the position of dying from a disease they don’t have to die from, oh my God!
“As fan, as a hip-hop fan, as somebody who is your fan, I’m so sad that you did that. So sad that you did that, sister. Oh my God.”
Minaj responded, accusing Reid of being “thirsty to down another black woman”.
This is what happens when you’re so thirsty to down another black woman (by the request of the white man), that you didn’t bother to read all my tweets. “My God SISTER do better” imagine getting ur dumb ass on tv a min after a tweet to spread a false narrative about a black woman https://t.co/4UviONyTHy
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 14, 2021
In a tweet, the rapper said: “This is what happens when you’re so thirsty to down another black woman (by the request of the white man), that you didn’t bother to read all my tweets.
“‘My God SISTER do better’ imagine getting ur dumb ass on tv a min after a tweet to spread a false narrative about a black woman.”
