Boris Johnson mentioned rapper Nicki Minaj during Tuesday afternoon’s prime minister question time following her controversial Twitter posts about Covid-19 vaccines.
Watch the video below:
One Monday, Minaj explained to her 22 million Twitter followers she would be absent from the 2021 Met Gala because the event requires all guests to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
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In a later tweet, the Starships rapper claimed her cousin, who lives in Trinidad, is friends with a man who suffered from swollen testicles after he was vaccinated.
The tweet has been criticised and debunked by medical experts on social media, leading to journalist Steve Swinsford of The Times to ask Professor Chris Whitty for his thoughts as the government continues to encourage Brits to get the vaccine.
Swinsford asked: "Professor Whitty, one of the world's biggest female celebrities Nicki Minaj has today publicly linked the coronavirus vaccines to impotence, now she's got eight million followers on Twitter, many of them are young people, young people you're suggesting should get vaccinated, what would you say to them and how concerned are you of public comments like that from public figures?"
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Whitty said in response: “There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous and some of which are clearly designed just to scare.
"That happens to be one of them."
He added: "People that go around trying to discourage other people from taking a vaccine which could be life-saving or prevent them from having life-changing injuries to themselves".
"Many of those people I regret to say will know they are pedalling untruths but they still do it. In my view, they should be ashamed."
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The prime minister said: “I’m not as familiar with the works of Nicki Minaj, as I probably should be, but I am familiar with Nikki Kanani, a superstar GP of Bexley who has appeared many times before you, who will tell you vaccines are wonderful and everybody should get them.
“That’s why I prefer to listen to Nikki Kanani.”
People couldn't believe their ears on social media after Minaj was discussed. One woman on Twitter joked: “are nicki minaj and boris johnson gonna scrap.”
While a second Twitter user shared: “We’re in a simulation. How has Boris Johnson mentioned Nicki Minaj in a press conference and she responded??”
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And a third shared: “nicki minaj addressing boris johnson is not what i expected to see today.”
The Chun-Li rapper responded to Whitty's comments shortly after they went viral on Twitter, where she praised his British accent.
"I love him even tho I guess this was a diss? The accent ugh! Yassss boo!!!" she tweeted.
Nicki Minaj's reps have been contacted for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Sky News/Nicki Minaj InstagramTopics: News, Celebrity, Coronavirus, Boris Johnson, Politics