International pop sensation Nicki Minaj has seemingly retreated from the public eye, deleting her Instagram account entirely after facing a fierce online backlash. The controversy stems from comments she made during an appearance with Erika Kirk, the widow of assassinated conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, at a high-profile political event in the United States.
A Controversial Appearance at AmericaFest
The incident unfolded on December 21 at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Arizona. Minaj walked out as a guest star for a Q&A session alongside Erika Kirk, who now leads the organisation following her husband's death. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a university speaking tour in September.
During the conversation, Kirk asked Minaj what advice she would give to the young men in the audience. The singer's response quickly veered into politically charged territory. She described former US President Donald Trump as "handsome" and "dashing," listing him as a potential role model.
The Unfortunate Slip of the Tongue
The situation escalated dramatically with a single, poorly chosen word. Minaj told the audience they had "amazing role models like the assassin JD Vance." JD Vance is a US Senator and was not involved in any assassination. The mention of an "assassin" in front of Erika Kirk, whose husband was murdered months prior, caused an immediate stir in the room.
Reports from the event indicate some audience members shuddered, while others reacted with nervous laughter. Minaj herself covered her mouth in apparent horror after realising her mistake, looking away from Kirk.
Erika Kirk's Gracious Response and Online Fury
Erika Kirk handled the moment with notable composure, stepping in to diffuse the tension. "Trust me, there is nothing new under the sun that I have not heard," she said to Minaj, adding "I love you." She then addressed the crowd, stating, "You have to laugh about it, truly."
Kirk also pre-empted the online reaction, praising Minaj as an "amazing woman" and stating, "Words are words, but I know her heart, it doesn't even matter."
Despite Kirk not taking personal offence, social media users were far less forgiving. Critics slammed Minaj for her unfortunate choice of words in the context, with one user quipping, "You put the ASS in assassin Nicki." Others condemned her endorsements of Trump and Vance, with a claim circulating that she lost "10 MILLION followers in 48 hours." While the exact number is disputed, analytics suggest she did lose hundreds of thousands of followers in the days after the event.
Disappearing Act and Fan Reactions
The singer's subsequent decision to remove her Instagram account has raised questions about her response to the criticism. However, fans familiar with her online behaviour noted this is not unprecedented. Minaj has a history of temporarily deactivating her Instagram throughout the year, often returning after a short period. Her account on the platform X remains active at this time.
The episode highlights the intense scrutiny and rapid backlash public figures face in the digital age, especially when navigating politically divisive spaces. While the in-person audience witnessed a moment of awkward recovery, the online fallout has proven more enduring, prompting the star's latest social media disappearance.
