A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein Why Nicki Minaj Threw It All Away For Fascism
Dec 26, 2025
In a riveting discussion, lawyer Olayemi Olurin and journalist Kat Tenbarge dive into Nicki Minaj's recent turn towards controversial political stances. They explore her evolution from fan-favorite to a figure entwined with right-wing narratives, examining her relationships with the LGBTQ community and implications of her public actions. The conversation delves into her past trauma, feuds with fellow female rappers, and how these factors have shaped her current identity and alliances—ultimately questioning what she stands to gain from this pivot.
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Shift Explained by Timeline Overlap
- Nicki Minaj's political shift can be mapped by intertwining personal, professional, and political timelines to explain her recent rightward turn.
- Matt Bernstein argues you don't need every detail of her past to understand how career stagnation and personal grievances pushed her toward conservative validation.
Humble, Traumatic Beginnings
- Nicki grew up in Trinidad with gospel-singer parents and experienced her father's abuse and alleged arson when she was five.
- She later moved to Queens, attended LaGuardia High School, and worked jobs like Red Lobster before getting discovered on MySpace.
Aesthetic Appeal Not Activism
- Nicki's appeal to LGBTQ fans often relied on camp, alter egos, and aesthetics rather than sustained activism or explicit outreach.
- Kat Tenbarge and Olayemi Olurin point out fandom connection can feel real without genuine allyship behind it.