*Nicki Minaj suggested that race was a factor in the MTV Video Music Awards snub of her “Anaconda” video, Taylor Swift somehow thought Nicki was coming for her, the Swifties and the Barbs got involved, Kim Kardashian unwittingly got caught in the drama – and the whole thing ended up exploding into an all-important “national conversation on race.”
It all started when Minaj vented that her “Anaconda” video (the raunchy butt-filled clip that drew a record-setting 19.6 million clicks in its first 24 hours) was not nominated for Video of the Year.
If I was a different “kind” of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well. 😊😊😊
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
When the “other” girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
I’m not always confident. Just tired. Black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it. https://t.co/2xOvJzBXJX
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
For some reason, Swift thought Nikki’s tweets were directed at her.
“I’ve done nothing but love & support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot,” Swift tweeted.
Unlike “Anaconda,” Swift’s video for “Bad Blood” was nominated for the top award. Featuring superthin supermodels wielding guns, the pseudo-action movie dethroned Minaj’s video for most views in one day when it was released this year.
@NICKIMINAJ I’ve done nothing but love & support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot..
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
Nicki Minaj replied, “Huh?”
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn’t say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
However, Nicki retweeted a supporter who accused Taylor Swift of not being “critical of racist media.”
.@taylorswift13 stop using “support all girls” as an excuse to not be critical of racist media that benefits and glorifies you
— berenice (@itsbereniced) July 21, 2015
Swift appeared to realize that she got riled up over nothing and tried to fix things:
@NICKIMINAJ If I win, please come up with me!! You’re invited to any stage I’m ever on.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
The two may have settled their misunderstanding, but their fans, and the larger conversation on race, was already in full swing. “Nicki” and “Taylor” were soon trending worldwide and thousands came to Nicki defense, many claiming their exchange showed a double standard: Swift was widely praised as brave for speaking out about problems with music industry last month — but Minaj was criticized for doing the same.
Nicki’s fans also blasted the way some media portrayed the two artists: Taylor Swift — beautiful, pure; Nicki Minaj — hysterical, angry.
can we discuss @EW‘s picture of preference to represent nicki vs taylor in their last tweet/article? pic.twitter.com/fMe0xi3mSt
— huda hassan (@_hudahassan) July 21, 2015
Nicki Minaj is FURIOUS with MTV’s VMAs for snubbing #Anaconda & #FeelingMyself. See her rant: https://t.co/avP9JI7Hb2 pic.twitter.com/OACYomQZBL
— HollywoodLife (@HollywoodLife) July 21, 2015
And then transgender activist Janet Mock jumped in with a photo showing the reverse: Swift looking angry and Nicki looking serene – aimed directly at Entertainment Weekly:
Dear @EW: Let’s reverse the imagery & not uphold the #angryblackwoman stereotype. pic.twitter.com/INNPP4Az90
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) July 21, 2015
Today, Entertainment Weekly apologized for its “insensitive juxtaposition of photos.”
An earlier version of our post on Taylor & Nicki used an insensitive juxtaposition of photos. It was a hasty choice—we sincerely apologize.
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) July 22, 2015
Meanwhile, folks began taking sides, with the hashtag #TeamNicki or #TeamTaylor.
Many Nicki supporters feel the “beef” reflects an all-too-familiar dynamic: A black woman makes a point, and a white woman tells her to calm down or steers the conversation toward feminism.
“A black woman speaks up on racial problems within the music industry. A white woman makes it completely about herself,” said user XLNB.
According to Twitter analytics site Topsy, there were more than double the amount of tweets using the hashtag #TeamNicki.
I’m baffled as to WHY @taylorswift13 felt the need to come at @NickiMinaj for speaking on behalf of unsung black female entertainers..
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) July 21, 2015
‘I’ve done nothing but love & support you’ pic.twitter.com/Tb9K9YMCLg
— Selina Thompson (@SelinaNThompson) July 21, 2015
@chescaleigh taylor swift in one comic. pic.twitter.com/9IfI2FGgTM
— mani. (@Manizzle_) July 22, 2015
And then Kim Kardashian jumped in…without meaning to.
Remember, it was her husband Kanye West who famously interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 VMAs to say that Beyonce should’ve won their category. As the Nicki/Taylor debate raged on, Kim tweeted a pic of herself with the caption, “Imma let you finish but…”
kim k tweets this during nicki vs. taylor drama… pic.twitter.com/765yo3qzue
— ａｍａｚｏｎ ｊａｗｎ (@nASHtygal) July 21, 2015
When she became aware that her tweet made it appear she was trying to shut Swift’s mouth, Kardashian frantically denied knowing anything about the beef.
Wait wait I’m in Paris it’s the middle of the night & I’m posting my Vogue Spain pics not having a clue what’s going on in the music world
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 21, 2015
I’m not trying to shade anyone! That’s not my style! I just thought that caption was perfect for that pic! Changing the caption now! #ironic
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 21, 2015
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
