Nicki Minaj didn’t hold back after Stephen A. Smith criticized her recent rant about JAY-Z. The outspoken sports commentator addressed Nicki’s frustrations regarding the selection of Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, a decision that sparked a heated response from the rap queen.
Nicki had accused JAY-Z of being a “sellout” and “egotistical” in light of the announcement, as she felt that hometown hero Lil Wayne should have headlined instead. But Smith wasn’t having it. On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show (September 12), he called out Nicki for her frequent feuds.
“Come on, Nicki. I respect you and your accomplishments, but every time we turn around, there’s another beef,” Smith said, listing a string of Minaj’s past conflicts with stars like Lil Kim, Cardi B, Mariah Carey, and others. “You disagree with the decision? Fine. But why attack Jay like that?”
In true Nicki fashion, she fired back on social media, retweeting a clip of Smith’s remarks with her own fiery response. “Oh look y’all, another paid puppet who only stands up to throw shade,” she wrote. “Stephen, we don’t care. I’m telling you now, we don’t care. Say more and it’ll be your fault. Sit down, ugly.”
As the debate over Kendrick’s Super Bowl slot and Lil Wayne’s absence continues to spark conversations, it’s clear Nicki Minaj won’t be silenced by her critics—especially when it comes to standing up for her fellow artists.
