Nicki Minaj has sparked controversy after vowing that she doesn’t agree with ‘body positivity’.
The Barbie World rapper, who welcomed a son known as Papa Bear with husband Kenneth Patty, has been a firm figure in the spotlight since releasing her debut album, Pink Friday, in 2010.
In a new interview, the 40-year-old reflected on her time in the public eye, opening up about going under the knife, and her ‘silly’ previous desire to want to change her figure.
‘I’m not in favor of body positivity if it means unhealthy bodies. That’s bull. It’s not believable, so let’s stop pretending,’ she told Vogue Magazine.
‘Recently I had to get a breast reduction, and actually I love it. I used to want a bigger butt, and now I look back and realize how silly that was.
‘So – love your curves, and love your non-curves. There’s nothing wrong with any of it.’
Discussing her own journey with body image, she said that she would ‘pay’ to look like her 25-year-old self now, before adding: ‘But today I can say that I’m at peace with who I am and how I look.’
The social movement around body positivity is encouraging acceptance of all body types, regardless of gender, size, shape or skin tone – while also working to change present-day beauty standards.
Nicki’s comments divided fans across social media, as many called her out for contradicting herself, while also slamming the use of the term ‘unhealthy bodies’.
‘Starting this by saying body positivity is bull if it mean’s unhealthy nobodies but ending by my saying to love your body no matter what?????? Girl do you even know what you’re saying rn,’ a fan fumed on Twitter.
‘This makes no sense. She just contradicted herself in the same sentence. Some people really just be speaking,’ a follower agreed.
Another penned: ‘Define “unhealthy bodies” for the class please.’
‘Please tell me what an unhealthy body is? I didn’t know looks firmly tell you what’s happening with someone’s insides,’ one begged.
As a commenter shared: ‘No. I’m sorry. Y’all need to stop Policing other people’s bodies.
‘Until you’re a doctor with someone’s health report on your desk— you have no way of knowing which body is healthy and which isn’t. stop being weird and MIND UR OWN [sic].’
However, others rushed to defend Nicki, suggesting that her discussion of ‘unhealthy bodies’ was referring to the use of plastic surgery, not weight.
‘Y’all tell on yourself because how do y’all relating fat to unhealthy, that’s not what she said, she talking about cosmetic surgery [sic],’ a Twitter user insisted.
‘You don’t have to like her to read the article and see that she’s referring to her getting plastic surgery,’ a second posted.
‘People die getting ps [plastic surgery] lmao her saying she’s not supporting body positivity if it’s supporting unhealthy bodies while literally mentioning ps has not to do with weight.’
As a fan added: ‘Before anyone gets upset over “unhealthy bodies” she means doing anything to yourself that puts your health at risk not your size.
‘That being surgery or extreme measures to get the body you want that doesn’t benefit your health!’
