Nicki Minaj Met Gala
Nicki Minaj arrives to the 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. Photo by James Devaney/GC Images
New York Representative Introduces Vaccine Bill Named After Nicki Minaj
New York Rep. George Santos has introduced a new bill named after Nicki Minaj called The Minaj Act, partially based on her 2021 tweets around vaccine concerns.
Past tweets Nicki Minaj posted about vaccinations have come to haunt her. On Monday (April 17) controversial New York congressman George Santos announced plans for The Minaj Act, which is meant to “establish a development period for new vaccines in order to generate public confidence.”
Under The Minaj Act, the federal government is unable to establish, implement or enforce any mandate requiring an individual to receive a vaccine that has not been authorized for marketing purposes at least ten years prior to a public health emergency being declared.
\u201cAhem.\n\nRep. George Santos just dropped seven bills in the hopper. Among them, The Minaj Act, named for \u2014 yes, you guessed it \u2014 rapper Nikki Minaj that establishes a development period for new vaccines in order to generate public confidence.\u201d— Kadia Goba (@Kadia Goba) 1681756707
“Medical Freedom is an absolute right,” Santos said in a statement.
He continued: “I urge my colleagues to join me in this mission to block tyrannical and draconian measures from being utilized by the Federal Government. If a public health emergency has been declared, then the federal agency looking to impose the mandate must submit a report to Congress and highlight the intent as well as the research behind the vaccine.”
In September 2021, Minaj tweeted her concerns about attending the Met Gala due to vaccine regulations.
“My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen,” Maraj said in a follow-up tweet that soon went viral.
\u201cThey want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won\u2019t for the Met. It\u2019ll be once I feel I\u2019ve done enough research. I\u2019m working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one \ud83d\ude4f\u2665\ufe0f\u201d— Nicki Minaj (@Nicki Minaj) 1631568090
\u201cMy cousin in Trinidad won\u2019t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you\u2019re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied\u201d— Nicki Minaj (@Nicki Minaj) 1631569446
Fans and others soon called out the latter tweet as misinformation, but Minaj would later claim that she was invited to The White House to discuss public hesitancy about vaccinations. Press Secretary Jen Psaski clarified that the rapper was only extended an early-stage call.
\u201cThe White House has invited me & I think it\u2019s a step in the right direction. Yes, I\u2019m going. I\u2019ll be dressed in all pink like Legally Blonde so they know I mean business. I\u2019ll ask questions on behalf of the ppl who have been made fun of for simply being human. #BallGate day 3\u201d— Nicki Minaj (@Nicki Minaj) 1631740352
