'Stop Spreading Misinformation': Nicki Minaj Hit With Backlash for Linking COVID-19 Vax to Impotency

Fans previously suspected that rapper Nicki Minaj, real name Onika Maraj, would not be attending the annual MTV Video Music Awards and MET Gala due to an ongoing legal situation involving her husband, Kenneth Petty. Last week, Petty pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender after moving his residence from New York to California.

Minaj, 38, received blowback from political commentators, netizens and her fanbase - 'the barbz' - on Monday after she took to Twitter to reveal the true reason for her absence from the VMAs and the MET Gala -- which required attendees to show proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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

"I was prepping for vmas then i [sic] shot a video & guess who got COVID?" she said, revealing her positive diagnosis to the internet. "Do u [sic] 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?"

The post came as a shock to many of her fans, particularly because she tweeted a few minutes prior that she would be getting in the pool with her child, who she gave birth to last October.

You’re doing research on the vaccine but have not reached the part of research where it says vaccines don’t give 100% immunity? pic.twitter.com/JigjRkbabS

— Ac (@herdiorx) September 13, 2021

Thank you😬 because I’m feeling really embarrassed right now

— The Buttless Baldie👩🏾‍🦲 (@Fat_deficient) September 13, 2021

The 38-year-old continued to incense and catch netizens off guard as she claimed that she "had the exact same symptoms as ppl [sic] with the damn vaccine," referring to the COVID-19 vaccine. It is unclear how Minaj was able to draw that conclusion.

At the same time, Minaj did encourage her fanbase to wear a face mask that "grips your head & face," rather than a "loose one."

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

She then proceeded to offer an anecdotal example of why she is not fully confident about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

"My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz [sic] his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen," Minaj tweeted. "His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding."

However, netizens were not buying the 38-year-old's through-the-grapevine story. Some even suggested that her cousin's friend was suffering from a sexually transmitted infection - or mumps - rather than COVID-19 vaccine complications.

your cousin's friend prolly just picked up an STD but please keep going 💀

— king crissle (@crissles) September 13, 2021

People are dying. Please stop spreading misinformation.

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 13, 2021

Sorry, this is not a side effect of the vaccine. It is called hydrocele. In adults, the two primary causes are injury or STD (chlamydia or gonorrhea). Probably your cousin's friend was taking one last marriage fling, picked up an STD, & is blaming vaccines. He needs an MD, stat.

— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 13, 2021

It was not long before both left and right-wing news outlets also picked up on the artist's revelation.

Joy Ann Reid, host of MSNBC's "The Reid Out," blasted the 38-year-old and reprimanded her for spreading misinformation to her 22 million followers.

"It's a blessing that you got that [platform]. That people listen to you. They listen to you more than they listen to me!" Reid said during her Monday broadcast. "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!"

.@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

Meanwhile, on Fox News, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" host Tucker Carlson also briefly touched on the topic, emphasizing Minaj's tweets on face masks and alleged COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

After reading off Nicki Minaj's tweet citing her cousin's friend's swollen balls to justify why she won't be "bullied" into taking the vaccine, Tucker Carlson says it "seems sensible." pic.twitter.com/8uR3vbOlvH

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) September 14, 2021

Despite blowback from fans, pundits and the general public, Minaj has remained firm in her decision to carry out more "research" before getting fully vaccinated. She also tweeted that she will likely have to get the COVID-19 vaccine before going on tour.