Um, so ok: Did anyone else notice how the mainstream media jumped to call Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift’s Twitter exchange a “war” and used words like “charged,” “feud” and, of course, “bad blood”?
Like, for real, tho?
Here’s the situation: The VMA nominations came out today and while Nicki snagged three nominations, none of them were for video of the year — and she put out two record-breaking videos this past year, “Anaconda” and “Feeling Myself.” So, she did what anyone wanting answers would do. She took to Twitter and went straight to the source:
Hey guys @MTV thank you for my nominations. 😘😘😘 Did Feeling Myself miss the deadline or…?
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Knowing that this definitely wasn’t the case, though, Nicki decided to let it be known that she knew what was up and she wasn’t, well, feelin’ it.
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
U couldn’t go on social media w/o seeing ppl doing the cover art, choreo, outfits for Halloween…an impact like that & no VOTY nomination?
— 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
Somewhere along the way, Taylor Swift thought Nicki was coming for her in her tweets, and posted the tweet below:
@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
The mainstream media went ham. On Nicki.
What they don’t seem to get is that Nicki’s not just talking about this year’s list. She’s talking about what happens year after year after year. But why is it that when a Black girl speaks out about racism and privilege in her industry, she gets dragged but if, as Nicki puts it, “other” girls speak out on “other” social issues, such as feminism, they get all the love?
We’ll let Nicki have the last word:
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
Nothing I said had to do with Taylor. So what jabs? White media and their tactics. So sad. That’s what they want. https://t.co/AfcwoyDvpg
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
UPDATE: Nicki accepts Taylor’s apology. Details below.
I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki. @NICKIMINAJ
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2015
That means so much Taylor, thank you. @taylorswift13 ❤️❤️❤️
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2015
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!