In a recent Instagram Live session that was supposed to be a fun, light-hearted interaction with fans, Kenneth Petty, the husband of rapper Nicki Minaj, shocked many with a homophobic slur. The live interaction was full of discussions on Nicki’s upcoming music projects and playful, loving dynamics between her and her husband until Petty made the offensive remark.
During the live stream, as he was having a casual talk, Kenneth Petty was heard saying, “That’s right, especially little f**ts or f* boys.” The comment was quite a surprise and quickly started an uproar on social media. Among the very disappointed and enraged fans, many criticized Petty’s words and Nicki Minaj’s silence over that incident.
Kenneth petty says the F slur while on live with Nicki Minaj and she does nothing 👀..
— “That’s right, especially little f*ggots or f*ck boys” PIC.TWITTER.COM/GSDD5HFXU5
— Saint (@spin4saint) AUGUST 30, 2024
Nicki, who attended the whole live session, opted not to call her husband out for a correction, leaving many of her fans feeling let down.
Social media platforms like Twitter were flooded with fans and critics’ reactions. The LGBTQ+ community was very vocal about how such language hurts, coming from someone in the public eye. Many were confused as to why Nicki-so, lyrical and assertive-would be so silent in the face of blatant homophobia.
As one fan tweeted, “Nicki Minaj has never been silent on anything. Why shut up now when it’s time to make a difference?” Another added, “We expect better from someone with so many LGBTQ+ fans.”
Not all reactions were critical, however. Some of Nicki’s most die-hard supporters leaped to her defense, suggesting that the incident was blown out of proportion and that Petty’s words should not eclipse Nicki’s artistic contributions. “She’s here to deliver music, not to police everyone’s words,” one loyal fan said on Instagram.
Nicki Minaj, however, has faced increasing scrutiny for her now-silent stance on inclusivity, given the immense size of her LGBTQ+ fanbase. She has often positioned herself throughout her career as an ally to the community, and many of her songs have touched the souls of LGBTQ+ listeners. Yet, this, coupled with other controversies in the past, certainly puts a damper on that relationship.
Kenneth Petty has never been afraid of controversies. Recently, he was sentenced to four months of house arrest after violating his probation terms. The probation violation occurred when he posted threatening videos on social media targeting Offset, a rapper.
Moreover, Petty has also been an outcast for several crimes. He has been convicted of attempted rape and did not register himself as a sex offender after moving to California. Failure to register led to his arrest in 2020.
Nicki Minaj has never been one to pull punches, both in the lyrical content of her songs and in her brazen persona. Much of her discography has served as an anthem to people who feel ostracized or misunderstood. In this incident, though, some question whether her commitment to her art overshadows any sense of responsibility to her audience.
