Entertainment

Nicki Minaj's Downfall And Political Tribulations

By Lidya Maru

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known colloquially as Nicki Minaj, has received backlash following her controversial appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, alongside Erika Kirk. Minaj’s appearance was a part of a larger four-day conference that spanned from Dec. 18 to Dec. 21. 

Minaj, a surprise guest on the final day of the conference, spoke about her Christian faith and said she felt newly strengthened to publicly express her beliefs. Critics, however, felt her comments carried clear transphobic and homophobic undertones, particularly with recent national debates surrounding gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights. Some instances of these comments include when Minaj said, “Boys, be boys... It's okay be boys... There's nothing wrong with being a boy."

LGBTQ+ advocates and commentators argued her comments aligned with messaging used by conservatives to oppose transgender inclusion in public spaces. Longtime fans found her statements especially shocking given Minaj’s historical support for and popularity among queer audiences. Debate over the comments continued online as some loyal supporters defended her statement as an expression of personal faith.

Minaj went on to praise several conservative political figures. She notably expressed her “utmost respect and admiration” for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, despite having condemned them in the past. She later went on to call Vance, who also attended the conference, an “assassin.” Many interpreted this comment as an allusion to the growing conspiracy that Vance assassinated Pope Francis.

Turning Point USA, the organization that hosted the event, is a conservative nonprofit group established in 2012 by Charlie Kirk. His widow, Erika Kirk, took over as CEO following his assassination in September during an event at Utah Valley University. In addition to Minaj, the event featured a mix of conservative elected officials, media personalities, and celebrities. Among these individuals were Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon.

Following the controversy, one fan started a Change.org petition to have her deported. The petition, as of Jan. 16, has over 60,000 signatures and aims to “urge immigration authorities to review Nicki Minaj's residency status” due to her “harmful rhetoric.” The backlash Minaj faced further emphasizes the growing role of public figures in politics.