Our generation is obsessed with the idea of being different, being bold, and being the center of attention. We do affirmations, wear shiny clothing, and have thousands of Instagram followers. However, it only goes skin deep before our differences are no longer celebrated. When people begin to think outside of the norm and have different opinions and thoughts, it all comes to a screeching halt. When in fact, this is where we should be prospering and building off of each other’s ideas and experiences, learning to love and appreciate people for who they are and not just what they look like. This is something I’d expect would come naturally to such an accepting generation who, as stated previously, celebrate diversity. However, when it comes to an individual’s intellectual or emotional difference, we land at an impasse, and Nicki Minaj has been the most recent victim of this phenomenon.
Minaj has gained the spotlight once more as her slew of tweets about the vaccine created chaos online. Beginning on Sept.13, Minaj was called out for not attending the Met Gala due to COVID-19 risks and the desire to protect her baby.
However, the people of the internet escalated the situation quickly (as they often do), and blamed the Met’s vaccine requirement as the reason she was not attending. She quickly voiced her opinion on the COVID vaccine and defended her position.
“They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won’t [be] for the Met. It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research. I’m working on that now,“ Minaj said. "In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with two strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one.”
In other words, she wants to do her own research and decide on her own time when she will receive the vaccine.
She then followed with what people are considering an “outlandish" and "wild” tweet about her cousin’s friend in Trinidad who alleged to suffering from impotence as an effect from the vaccine. Doctors from all over immediately got on this case, including the Trinidad Health Minister, Dr. Fauci, and even the CDC, saying that there is no evidence to confirm that impotence can be caused from the vaccine.
Minaj soon referred to Instagram Live claiming that Twitter had put her in “jail” and that she couldn’t post to Twitter any longer. However, Twitter responded in opposition to this, stating that they never applied any suspension to her account. Minaj was also received a phone call from White House staff who could offer further incites on her COVID questions and concerns, but nobody is sure if this is really going to happen.
From beginning to end, this debacle has shocked many, as one of the world’s biggest female rappers has spoken out with an uncommon opinion on the vaccine. I’m convinced, however, that this is caused by something that roots much deeper than a vaccine, and Nicki Minaj words this perfectly in her next tweets.
“Right. I can’t speak to, agree with, even look at someone from a particular political party,“ Minaj said in a Tweet. "People aren’t human any more. If you’re Black and a Democrat tells you to shove marbles up your ass, you simply have to. If another party tells you to look out for that bus, stand there and get hit.”
When people can no longer safely share their own opinions and experiences without receiving extreme backlash or government interference, you know there is a problem (and I would argue that this “problem” is not caused by an individual citizen with a Twitter account and an opinion). I would like to provide a reminder that the vaccine has yet to be out an entire year, and has caused the unvaccinated to be blamed, discriminated against, and attacked.
In our country, where freedom and individuality is supposed to be respected, I believe it is everyone’s right to decide where they stand on the vaccine, and that neither way should have an effect on the way we live our lives and determine what we can and can’t do.
