Pop star Nicki Minaj has deleted her Instagram account after facing significant backlash for comments made during an event with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The incident occurred during a Q&A session at AmericaFest in Arizona on December 21, 2023, leading to a dramatic loss of followers for the artist.
During her appearance alongside Kirk, now the CEO of Turning Point USA, Minaj responded to a question about role models for young men by naming former US President Donald Trump as “handsome, dashing,” and one of the role models they should consider. This comment was followed by an unfortunate slip of the tongue, where she referred to JD Vance as an “assassin.” The choice of words drew audible reactions from the audience, particularly given the tragic context of her remarks; Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a speaking event in September 2023.
Minaj quickly realized her mistake, covering her mouth and attempting to redirect the conversation. Erika Kirk intervened, reassuring the audience by stating, “Trust me, there is nothing new under the sun that I have not heard,” and expressed her affection for Minaj, saying, “I love you.” Erika added that laughter is essential in difficult times, stating, “You have to laugh about it, truly.”
Despite Erika’s efforts to diffuse the situation and her acknowledgment of Minaj as an “amazing woman,” social media users criticized the pop star for her comments. One follower remarked, “You put the ASS in assassin, Nicki,” while another noted the impact of her remarks on her follower count, claiming, “You lost 10 MILLION followers in 48 hours. You picked the wrong side.”
The fallout from this incident has led to Minaj’s departure from Instagram, where she reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of followers in a matter of days. While some fans expressed concern over the deletion, others pointed out that Minaj has a history of temporarily deactivating her account before returning. As of now, her account on X remains active.
The controversy highlights the challenges public figures face when navigating sensitive topics and the immediate repercussions that can arise from public statements. As reactions continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how this incident will affect Minaj’s public image and her future engagements.
