Nicki Minaj is opting to remain unvaccinated amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and as a result, she couldn’t attend the 2021 Met Gala on Monday night (Sept. 13) in New York.
In a series of tweets she shared as the event was just getting started, the hitmaker revealed that because COVID-19 vaccination is required for guests to attend this year’s Met Gala, she would not be in attendance.
“They want you to get vaccinated for the Met,” she wrote on Twitter. “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. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one.”
In a previous tweet she shared earlier on Monday, Minaj seemingly revealed she had already contracted the virus while preparing for Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, so she ended up pulling out of her planned performance. “I was prepping for vmas then i shot a video & guess who got COVID?” she said. “Do u know what it is not to be able to kiss or hold your tiny baby for over a week? A baby who is only used to his mama? ‘Get vaccinated’ Drake had just told me he got covid w|THE VACCINE tho.”
In an additional tweet, Minaj explained that while she is personally holding off on receiving the vaccine for now, she supports individuals who are choosing to get vaccinated and she may receive the vaccine eventually. “A lot of countries won’t let ppl work w/o the vaccine. I’d def recommend they get the vaccine,” she wrote. “They have to feed their families. I’m sure I’ll b vaccinated as well cuz I have to go on tour, etc.”
Also on Twitter, Minaj claimed that one of her relatives’ loved ones experienced adverse side effects after being vaccinated in her native Trinidad. “My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent,” she wrote. “His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied.”
Minaj also co-signed one Twitter user who explained that they have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and did not experience negative side effects. “Nicki I got the vaccine and haven’t got the virus or anything so that’s a good thing,” the person tweeted, to which Minaj replied, “That’s amazing babe. This is the norm.”
The 2021 Met Gala, co-hosted by Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka on Monday, is being livestreamed by Vogue below:
