Nicki Minaj’s cousin’s friend’s purportedly swollen testicles may not have a part on 50 Cent’s new show, but they have certainly become an unfortunate mainstay in the current news cycle.
After Minaj’s recent sharing of vaccine-focused misinformation, including a bit about swollen testicles, the “Trollz” artist has been in a widely covered back-and-forth that’s once again revived a larger discussion about the importance of sharing accurate information, especially as a public figure.
And now, the ever-growing story continues with Minaj’s latest comments directed at CNN’s Don Lemon. As you may have seen, Lemon recently shared a passionate message about how those who are still not vaccinated are holding the rest of the country back. Linking the lack of logic in the anti-vaccination stance to the ideology found among those who followed former president Donald Trump’s false election claims, Lemon said it’s time to consider leaving such people behind.
“The people who are not getting vaccines, who are believing the lies on the internet instead of science, it’s time to start shaming them or leave them behind because they are keeping the majority of Americans behind,” he said.
On the topic of people who buy into conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine while ignoring the larger historic role vaccines, in general, have played, Lemon questioned this approach by bringing up other types of injections.
“You know what they get shots in nowadays? In their rear-ends,” Lemon said. “They’re getting shots to make it bigger. They’re getting shots in their face. They don’t know what’s in Botox.”
In the opening lines of her response via an Instagram Stories post, Minaj made an offensive reference to the fact that Lemon is gay. From there, she attempted to argue that she was being demonized for asking questions.
“He couldn’t wait to deliver that line,” Minaj, who also referred to Lemon as “Uncle Tomiana,” wrote. “He rehearsed it all night. Def has a little dick. Mad cuz the shot couldn’t fix THAT. 3-4 inches max.” See Minaj’s full message below:
“Now if I start discussing what you get in YOUR rear end, I’d be wrong right?
If you’re ever discussing facts with a person who’s telling you to buy, or get smthng & you go ‘ok cool, tell me more about it’ and they start insulting you, RUN. Demonizing ppl for asking questions won’t help your cause Uncle Tomiana.
I’m stuck in a fkng Will Ferrell movie.
Us: Tell me more about it
Tomi: YA KNOW WUT YA DO GET IN UR ASS?!?!
He couldn’t wait to deliver that line. He rehearsed it all night. Def has a little dick. Mad cuz the shot couldn’t fix THAT. 3-4 inches max.”
And here’s how it appeared on IG:
Earlier this week, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh was tasked with issuing a public response to Minaj’s thirdhand swollen testicles claim. During a press conference, Deyalsingh confirmed that he and his team had not been able to find any truth to the claim of the artist’s cousin’s friend having been left with swollen testicles after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim,” Deyalsingh said. “As far as we know at this point in time, there has been no such reported either side effect or adverse event.”
The latest U.S. data shows that just over 54 percent of the total population has been fully vaccinated. For the portion of the population 18 years of age and older, that number is just over 65 percent. If you haven’t already secured your own doses, click here to make an appointment at a location near you.
