Nicki Minaj isn't attending the 2021 Met Gala due to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, telling her fans she hadn't "done enough research" before sharing a bizarre story about her cousin's friend's genitals.
The rapper tweeted: "They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. If I get vaccinated it won't for the Met."
"It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now," she wrote.
"In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with two strings that grips your head and face. Not that loose one."
The 'Anaconda' hitmaker went on to share an unverified story about her "cousin's friend" in Trinidad, suggesting his reproductive organs were badly affected by a COVID-19 vaccine and that, subsequently, his wife left him.
"My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it and became impotent [sic]. His testicles became swollen," Minaj tweeted.
His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it and make sure you're comfortable with ur decision, not bullied [sic]."
Multiple scientific studies have found no link between the COVID-19 vaccine and male infertility, however there is evidence that catching COVID-19 can have far reaching implications for men young and old, including decreased sperm count and erectile dysfunction.
Many of Minaj's fans asked her to reconsider the material she was sharing to her 22.6 million Twitter followers, pleading: "Nicki, I'm begging u to PLEASE get educated on this topic."
"I love u to death [sic] and it saddens me that you're spreading this. Individual cases shouldn't be used to deny the vaccine. Look at the research. Vaccines are HIGHLY effective. This is a FACT. This isn't opinion."
In response to one fan who said they had to get the vaccine in order to get a job, Minaj replied: "I know babe. A lot of countries won't let ppl work w/o the vaccine. I'd def recommend they get the vaccine. They have to feed their families. I'm sure I'll b vaccinated as well cuz I have to go on tour, etc [sic]."
Minaj also revealed that she had caught COVID-19 while preparing for the VMAS.
"Guess who got COVID?" she replied to one tweet.
"Do u know what it is not to be able to kiss or hold your tiny baby for over a week? A baby who is only used to his mama? 'Get vaccinated' Drake had just told me he got covid w THE VACCINE tho so chile [sic]," she wrote.
She went on to falsely claim "babe, that's not true" to a follower who pointed out that the vaccine doesn't prevent catching COVID-19, but prevents serious symptoms.
"I had the exact same symptoms as ppl with the damn vaccine," Minaj replied.
Apparently as part of "her own research", Minaj went on to create a poll asking her followers to choose which vaccine they would recommend.
