Nicki Minaj is getting backlash from her social media followers and mental health advocates alike after she posted a video in which she is laughing at a woman deemed to be mentally ill.
The clip was shot in Miami earlier this week and featured the rapper laughing and trying to engage with the woman who screamed that she wanted to be left alone.
As the woman began to walk away, Minaj can be heard asking “What did I do?” She then tells the woman, “You look nice. Can we talk?”
When Minaj posted the clip to Instagram those who viewed it thought she was being insensitive.
One person wrote, “You talk about privilege when you don’t get an award you want, but then you use your wealth and fame to abuse this woman who’s less fortunate than you? Hypocritical.” Another Instagram user commented, “She asked you to leave her alone. I’m sure you would expect to be left alone when you need to be. Poor lady :(.” And someone else added, "How cruel and disrespectful, I see you totally differently now.”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Miami-Dade County was not happy about the video either and released an official statement which read in part, “Nobody would make fun of a cancer patient, and mental illness is an illness like any other. Also, Minaj invaded a woman’s privacy, and in so doing dehumanized and objectified her. That is not acceptable behavior toward any other human being.”
Some of Minaj's fans defended the post and so far the star has not deleted it.