Nicki Minaj Video Sparks Concern Hours After Divorce Rumors

The clip shows Minaj—born Onika Tanya Maraj—wearing a silk turban and night gown. Speaking directly to the camera, the “Super Bass” singer appears to be reminiscing about giving birth to her son in 2020, whom she shares with husband Kenneth “Zoo” Petty.

“One day, they’re yelling ‘push’ and you’re in pain,” the 41-year-old said. “Then one day, comes out a beautiful baby boy.”

“Thank God your glory,” Minaj whispered into the camera. “Congratulations to him and my ma up there, you’re doing a great job. In case no one’s told you that, you’re doing a great job.”

Newsweek has reached out to Nicki Minaj for comment via email.

The video worried Minaj’s fans, with the hashtag “#WeLoveYouNicki” trending on X, formerly Twitter.

“Just saw Nicki’s IG story and now I’m worried and I don’t even know what’s up with her,” said user @Bunbarbive;

“I honestly hope she’s okay,” wrote user alyan alongside a snippet of the video.

“I’m so worried about nicki i pray she’s doing ok and finds the strength to guide her through whatever it is she’s going through right now,” commented Barbie. “She’ll forever have my support and love.”

The video was posted hours after divorce rumors began to circulate on social media. The Grammy winner shared a cryptic post to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, that simply read: “Yes single.”

Fans were unsure whether Minaj meant she’d split with Petty, or that she is planning to release new music. Her last studio album, Pink Friday 2, was only released in December.

Minaj and Petty, 46, briefly dated as teenagers while attending New York City’s LaGuardia High School. The former couple reconnected in 2018 and wed a year later. However, their relationship has been marked by controversy.

Nicki Minaj attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. The hashtag “WeLoveYouNicki” is currently trending on X, formerly Twitter. JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES ENTERTAINMENT
Petty’s past has been a significant point of contention for Minaj’s fans. He was convicted of the attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl in 1995, which resulted in a four-year prison sentence. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the 2002 shooting of Lamont Robinson and served seven years in prison​.

When moving to California to be with Minaj in 2020, Petty failed to register as a sex offender, for which he was sentenced to house arrest and probation in 2022​.

Minaj has staunchly defended her husband, telling critics in 2018: “Y’all can’t run my life.”

Fans’ opinions of the romance have remained mixed. Some have continued to support Minaj, while others have expressed disappointment with her choice to stand by Petty.

However, during an interview with Vogue in December, Minaj confessed that the early years of parenthood have been tough for the couple, with things becoming “testy” between her and Petty.

“I would always tell people, ‘Watch, when I have a child I’m going to cook every meal for him and bake cookies every day,'” Minaj said.

“Maybe subconsciously I hoped my focus would just be on being a mother, and I looked forward to that idea,” she said. “It felt like a relief. But what happens is that you find out you have to work.”

The rapper has been facing legal issues of her own in recent months. On May 25, Minaj was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, forcing the postponement of her scheduled performance in Manchester, England, where approximately 20,000 fans were awaiting her arrival​​.

The Dutch military police reported that Minaj was found with “dozens of joints in her luggage” and subsequently fined 350 euros ($380) before being released to continue her journey.