Nicki Minaj Puts MTV on Blast for 2015 VMA Nominations Snub -- and Taylor Swift Responds!
Where’s the love? Nicki Minaj has a few questions for MTV about the just-announced 2015 VMA nominations, which featured nine nods for Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” music videos, but just two for Minaj’s “Anaconda.”
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After the nominees were revealed on Tuesday, July 21, the “Only” performer took to Twitter with a message for the network. Her tweets made it clear that while she appreciates the recognition she did get, she feels she should be up for more than three awards. (In addition to the two nominations she received for “Anaconda,” she and her “Bang Bang” cohorts Jessie J and Ariana Grande are contenders for “Best Collaboration.”)
Hey guys @MTV thank you for my nominations. ???????????? Did Feeling Myself miss the deadline or…?
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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Minaj also took issue with the fact that while “Anaconda” is up for “Best Hip Hop Video” and “Best Female Video,” it missed out on bigger categories like “Video of the Year.” The nominees for that honor include Swift, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, and Kendrick Lamar.
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If I was a different “kind” of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well. ????????????
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ellen did her own anaconda video and did the #choreo lol. Remember her doing that kick ????. Even mtv did a post on the choreo @MTV remember?
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
U couldn’t go on social media w/o seeing ppl doing the cover art, choreo, outfits for Halloween…an impact like that & no VOTY nomination?
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year ????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
To back up her point, the Pink Friday rapper retweeted several fan complaints about the perceived snubs, including some that made note of how “Anaconda” broke the Vevo record for most views in a 24-hour period.
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Minaj’s tweets caught the eye of fellow nominee Swift, who received a “Video of the Year” nomination for her star-studded “Bad Blood” video. In response to the “Bang Bang” hitmaker’s complaints, the “Style” songstress wrote:
@NICKIMINAJ I’ve done nothing but love & support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot..
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
Minaj followed up with:
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn’t say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
@taylorswift13 I’m still confused as to why u just tweeted me when I made it abundantly clear… pic.twitter.com/A5kJyi6fQC
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Swift replied by extending an invitation to the rapper:
@NICKIMINAJ If I win, please come up with me!! You’re invited to any stage I’m ever on.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
Minaj wasn’t the only artist who took issue with MTV’s list of nominees, though. Rapper Azealia Banks – who had a couple of big videos with “Ice Princess” and “Yung Rapunxel” but received no nominations on Tuesday – also voiced her frustrations on Twitter.
All my videos deserve VMas and my album deserves a Grammy but I’ll never get one because America doesn’t like opinionated black women.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) July 21, 2015
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