Nicki Minaj nearly gets hit by object onstage — hurls item back into crowd

Nicky Minaj.
Nicky Minaj is the latest celeb to get pelted by a projectile.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

“Starships” were meant to fly … but they weren’t meant to be thrown.

During her Sunday concert, Nicki Minaj, 41, became the latest musician to get nearly pelted by an object.

In a video shared by Pop Crave on X, the rapper could be seen performing in Detroit on her Pink Friday 2 world tour. Suddenly, someone in the crowd throws an unidentified item at her.

Minaj threw up her hand to block the object in the middle of her hit, “Starships.” She then crouched to pick it up before tossing it back into the audience.

Nicki Minaj singing. WireImage for Live Nation
Nicki Minaj singing. WireImage for Live Nation
Minaj was the latest singer to nearly get hit by an object. WireImage for Live Nation
Minaj was the latest singer to nearly get hit by an object. WireImage for Live Nation

Minaj appeared shocked by the incident.

The “Barbie World” singer joins a growing list of stars who have experienced similar events.

In October 2022, Harry Styles was hit in the groin by a bottle during a concert.

Styles immediately showed signs of discomfort, wincing before saying into the microphone, “Now that’s unfortunate.”

Minaj in concert. WireImage for Live Nation
Minaj in concert. WireImage for Live Nation
Nicky Minaj. WireImage for Live Nation
Nicky Minaj. WireImage for Live Nation

In June 2023, Bebe Rexha was hit on the forehead with a phone during her concert at the Rooftop at Pier 17.

The alleged perpetrator, Nicolas Malvagna, was arrested on several misdemeanor charges: two counts of third-degree assault as well as second-degree aggravated harassment, third-degree attempted assault and second-degree harassment.

The New Jersey man has said he was attempting to get Rexha, 33, to take a photo with his phone when he chucked it at her during the performance — leaving her bloodied, with a black eye, and in need of stitches.

Minaj was not hurt in the incident. WireImage
Minaj was not hurt in the incident. WireImage
Minaj joins Bebe Rexha and Harry Styles as singers who have had objects thrown at them. WireImage
Minaj joins Bebe Rexha and Harry Styles as singers who have had objects thrown at them. WireImage

During his arraignment last month, Manhattan prosecutors said Malvagna told cops that he was just trying to take part in a TikTok trend when he tossed his phone at the the Brooklyn-born singer.

“It’s a TikTok trend where you throw your phone onto the stage, and a celebrity passes it and takes a selfie,’” Malvagna told arresting officers, according to a prosecutor.

“‘I thought she was looking in my direction. I was about two rows back, but instead of my phone landing right next to her, my phone hit her in the face,’” Malvagna allegedly told cops.

Starships were meant to fly….but not like that. WireImage for Live Nation
Starships were meant to fly….but not like that. WireImage for Live Nation
Throwing objects at performers is a TikTok trend. Getty Images for Live Nation
Throwing objects at performers is a TikTok trend. Getty Images for Live Nation

“This trend of throwing things at performers while they are onstage must come to an end. It’s so disrespectful and very dangerous. Please just enjoy the music I beg of you…” Charlie Puth wrote on X after Rexha, Ava Max and Kelsea Ballerini were also hit during concerts.

During a Weekends with Adele show at the Colosseum in Las Vegas last year, Adele said, “Have you noticed how people are forgetting f–king show etiquette at the moment. People are throwing s–t onstage. Have you seen that? I f–king dare you — I dare you throw something at me. I’ll f–king kill you.”

She added: “Stop throwing things at the artist … These people have lost it.”

In July 2023, Billie Eilish told the Hollywood Reporter, “I’ve been getting hit onstage with things for like, literally, six years, I don’t know why this is like new. People just get excited and it can be dangerous.

“We get it, but don’t do it,” she went on, admitting that it’s “absolutely infuriating” for an artist standing in front of blinding lights to have a foreign object come flying at them from out of nowhere.

“Don’t throw things onstage,” she urged.