Few artists have commanded pop culture quite like Nicki Minaj. And few have sparked as much controversy along the way.
A trailblazer in rap with undeniable influence, Nick’s career has unfolded alongside questionable political stances, headline-making feuds, polarising personal choices and moments that have repeatedly thrust her beyond music and into cultural debate.
In fact, her off-stage actions have often rivalled her chart success for attention.
Here, we revisit the most controversial moments that have shaped, and complicated, Nicki Minaj’s public legacy.
A sharp conservative turn
In December 2025, Nicki made headlines with a surprise appearance at the conservative Turning Point USA AmericaFest in Arizona.
At the event, she publicly praised the U.S. President, Donald Trump, and Vice President, J.D. Vance, calling them “role models” and mocking California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The appearance marked a striking shift from her past criticisms of Trump and drew widespread commentary, particularly after an awkward slip referring to Vance as an “assassin” onstage.
When she supported her brother, who was arrested and charged with child rape
Nicki’s older brother, Jelani Maraj, was convicted in 2017 of repeatedly raping an 11-year-old girl and later sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Jelani’s conviction and sentence drew intense media scrutiny and uncomfortable questions about Minaj’s family, though she did not testify in his trial.
Minaj was heavily criticised when it was alleged that she paid $100,000 for his bail.
Her relationship with Kenneth Petty
Nicki’s marriage to Kenneth “Zoo” Petty has been one of her most controversial personal choices. Petty is a registered sex offender who previously pled guilty to attempted rape and served time, and later faced legal consequences for failing to register as a sex offender in California.
Nicki has publicly defended their relationship. However, critics have invoked Petty’s criminal past when challenging her credibility on issues involving children and public responsibility.
Nicki’s feud with Miley Cyrus
One of the defining moments of the mid 2010s was undeniably the 2015 MTV Music Awards.
In a pre-event interview with the New York Times, Miley Cyrus (who was hosting the awards that year), was asking about her thoughts on Nicki getting snubbed. “What I read sounded very Nicki Minaj, which, if you know Nicki Minaj is not too kind,” she said. “It’s not very polite. I think there’s a way you speak to people with openness and love.”
At the awards show, Nicki confronted Miley while accepting the award for best hip-hop video. “And now, back to this bitch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press. Miley, what’s good?” Minaj said.
Miley defended herself, saying, “Hey, we’re all in this industry. We all do interviews. And we all know how they manipulate.”
The pair would later downplay the feud, but it become enmeshed within pop culture lore forevermore.
Nicki’s feud with Megan Thee Stallion
Once collaborators and friendly on social media, Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion’s relationship deteriorated in 2024.
The feud culminated in public barbs when Minaj previewed her diss track ‘Big Foot’ that took aim at Megan’s flow and success, sparking backlash for seeming to mock sensitive topics related to Megan’s life and artistry.
A feud with Cardi B
Nicki’s rivalry with Cardi B dates back to 2017 where Nicki was allegedly threatened by Cardi’s success.
Tensions erupted into a widely covered altercation at New York Fashion Week in 2018, where Cardi allegedly tried to punch Nicki.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Cardi accused Nicki of making disparaging comments about her daughter, Kulture, and her ability as a mother.
Nicki denied the claims. “It’s so sad for someone to pin that on me because I’m the bad guy and they know people would believe them,” Minaj said on her Apple Music radio show. “So let me just go on record having said, I would never talk about anyone’s child or parenting.”
The feud has continued into 2025 where they trade social media jabs and digs over album performance, making it one of rap’s longest-running conflicts.
Her collaboration with Tekashi 6ix9ine
One of her most criticised music moves was when Nicki collaborated with Tekashi 6ix9ine on the song ‘Fefe’. In 2015, Tekashi 6ix9ine pled guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance. The crime, which occurred when he was 18 years old, involved a video that he had posted on social media.
Due to this criminal history, critics argued the collaboration normalised troubling behaviour and undermined expectations for Minaj as a role model.
Nicki’s anti-vaccine commentary
In 2021, Nicki made headlines when she said she refused to go to the Met Gala due to vaccine requirements. “If I get vaccinated it won’t be for the Met,” she wrote on X.
“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.”
She went on to share a now-infamous anecdote about her cousin’s friend in Trinidad, who supposedly “became impotent” and suffered swollen testicles after receiving a vaccine. “His testicles became swollen,” she said.
“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.”
There was no scientific support for her claims. Her comments spread rapidly, prompting health experts and media outlets to debunk the misinformation.
Yet another feud, this time with Mariah Carey
One of Nicki’s earliest headline-grabbing controversies came during her stint as a judge on American Idol in 2012 and 2013. On the show, tensions with fellow judge Mariah Carey erupted.
A leaked video posted by TMZ showed Minaj angrily confronting Carey over perceived slights during auditions. Nicki seemed to tell Mariah, “Every time you take a shot at me imma take it back, and if you gotta fucking problem, then handle it. I told them, I’m not fucking putting up with your fucking highness over there.”
Mariah later suggested the feud created an “unsafe” work environment.
Nicki denied some of the more explosive claims, but the clash became one of her most talked-about feuds.
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