Damage Control

Nicki Minaj apologizes for Nazi imagery in lyric video

January 8, 2015

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } January 8, 2015

Nicki Minaj apologizes for Nazi imagery in lyric video

Nicki Minaj found herself in hot water recently after her animated lyric video for her latest single was criticized by fans and the Anti-Defamation League for using Nazi imagery. The ADL alleged that "certain aspects of the clip's aesthetic, such as the color scheme and styling of the Young Money logo on banners and armbands, evoked the aesthetics of Nazi Germany." Indeed, the video takes heavy cues from Nazi propaganda (warning: NSFW language):

Minaj took to Twitter today to apologize:

The artist who made the lyric video for “Only” was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called "Metalocalypse" & Sin City.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

I didn't come up w/the concept, but I'm very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I'd never condone Nazism in my art.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

It's a mostly mature apology, though it doesn't change the fact that the video uses imagery that unmistakably references a horrific genocide.