Twitter.
Your chance to roll in the digital gutter with the likes of Minaj and Trump.
Oh, and practice some form of gibberish that has to be explained in terms of some other rapper''s not-so-recent foul release.
That the New York Times would even cover this godawful mess after they ignored Bernie Sanders and progressive ideas with a furious purpose for two years has me wondering whether it's worth the fifteen bucks , half of it or anything at all.
Evedently, I'm no longer a stan.
33
Nicki Minaj is the black, female version of Trump. Twitter was a mistake.
28
Minaj and fans again illustrate the hate, violence, misogyny, etc., in the entire current rap music scene.
25
Oh, great. Now we have entitled celebrities acting like dictators too. Is no one allowed to criticize Ms. Minaj's work? Apparently she thinks that because she is rich and writes rap songs that she should be immune to, or protected from it. I am disgusted and will be looking to decent music industry producers & performers alike to be distancing themselves from Ms. Minaj. All decent Americans should as well. Hatred is on the rise and she has power -- the ability to help it rise, or blunt it.
33
Ms Thompson’s tweet was a gift to Ms Minaj. No publicist could have done a better job at generating attention.
7
Nicki Minaj is basically acting just like Donald Trump now. Depressing. I guess politicians and pop stars both are likely to have some narcissistic tendencies that lead them to bully and try to silence anybody who dares critique them.
27
Check yourself before you wreck yourself
5
If Ms Thompson is smart, she will use her new-found fame to further her career. Good-luck to her!
29
Yes. Bill Maheress. You go, Girl.
1
"Internet Chaos"? Is this the replacement phrase for the overused "Gone Viral." Either way, an over selling. I did not even notice this so called chaos. Storm in a tea cup comes to mind....or thimble I should say.
6
It's a disservice to the so-called celebrity and society as a whole to give them attention for their negative behavior.
12
Live by social media, die by social media.
13
Reading this reminds me why I don't do social media. What a ridiculous incident for people to waste their energy on.
39
"...after she posted a message about Ms. Minaj’s musical direction." WHAT musical direction?
41
Two things,
First, Ms. Thompson, if an aspiring journalist or arts critic should stand by her writing or apologize. Either way, there is no need to see a therapist.
Second, Minaj should have smiled generously and allowed people their opinions while agreeing or disagreeing.
But I guess all publicity is good publicity. Let's start a catfight and have the mob gleefully yell from the sidelines.
14
Here's the thing I think a lot of people in this article forget about social media: There is a person behind the keyboard. And it goes for both sides of this story.
Somehow I strongly doubt that Ms. Thompson, for example, would have approached Ms. Minaj and made a comment about her age and maturity to her face.
Similarly, I don't think Ms. Minaj's "Barbz" would have been so vitriolic in their criticism of Ms. Thompson to HER face.
I don't feel bad for anybody in this story.
15
On social media consume content only. After all the hate from people you don't know (and would never want to know) you're lucky to get back to zero when the smoke clears. Why expose yourself to this faceless, anonymous horde of outrage? I just don't understand the emotional upside.
4
Social media today on many levels has become a modern day lynch mob.
38
Minaj is the adult version of a spoiled brat, just like the one in our White House. It’s sick that people act like this.
45
This is what happens when no one takes out the trash for a long time.
14
What wit the blonde wig?
Talk about Cultural Appropriation...
Twitter can be brutal
9
I had this happen with Roxane Gay. I asked her a sincere question about financial privilege as she writes in her memoir about it." A white chick is going to tell me about privilege" she wrote back, later calling me "An embarassment" and inciting her fans to "Grab a hand" and join in on the online attack. It was so severe and hateful I reported it to Twitter. Truly a terrifying experience.
49
Too bad for Ms. Thompson but one knock on her: journalists have got to get the their facts straight: Nicki is 35yo, she's not 'touching 40 soon'.
3
This "35, not pushing 40!" point her and her fans seem to be stuck on is an odd distinction. Think of it this way: age 35 to 50 is considered a single marketing demographic for a lot of things, and within 4 years a performer employing the current pop formula (as Minaj is) may be able to put out only 2 or 3 well-produced albums. So yes, "touching 40" will be happening soon with Minaj, and in fact you could argue that it's happening now and she should perhaps think about adjusting her formula accordingly very soon. Thompson made a point Minaj and her PR team should have been receptive to.
18
You mean "they" trolled her just because she expressed a thought that was different than their group think? Shocker!
Try wearing a MAGA hat and see how her followers react.
10
i don't feel sorry for anyone who talks trash on twitter. people should know by now that twitter is a garbage fire. she wanted attention and she got it.
10
I absolutely love Nicki Minaj and believe if the writer was a song writer and promoter NM would v become a regular broke worker bee. WT gave her opinion & she got a response. I too was disappointed with comments made by WT & thought they were demeaning but as they say, if you Wanna get ahead attack UR own Race, Gender, etc. : however this time it backfired. Ppl r missing that WT violated policies of her workplace / internship & that's why she was DISMISSED
1
Social media is, after all, deep. Not.
3
i don't feel sorry for anyone who uses twitter. people should know by now that twitter is a garbage fire. hopefully one day 'journalists' will stop using drama from tweets as news because its so irrelevant to reality.
7
Well clearly Ms Thompson was spot on. A new direction IS needed. This is the behavior of a child and a toxic narcissist.
How is Ms Minaj any different than Donald Trump?
23
Yeah, if I inadvertently insulted one of our clients I'd get fired, too. At 26 sweetie, you have a lot to learn about this business....
6
Minaj is a talented lady but has never been able to take criticism like most celebrities in their privileged bubble. Beyonce, gaga etc never call out their fans bad behavior but would be the first to criticize Trump who exploits the exact same celebrity thin skin and blind fandom
8
The company will fire Ms. Thompson for her tweet but I'm sure will continue to work with Minaj despite her obvious attempts at bullying. Ah, the power of money pushes us to such great lengths of hypocrisy.
16
Alot of American pop and rap is pretty awful. The language is horrific (basically these tweets put to music). Politics are only partially to blame for today's low in class, charm, charactor status quo, the music industry has played a sizeable role in it's creation as well.
6
Scary that people are using bullying tactics to shut down first amendment rights in all areas now.
12
The first amendment guarantees freedom from restraint or censure by the government. For other issues we have to rely on decency and maturity, which appears in short supply here.
31
Absurd noise and the old Hollywood aphorism, "Bad publicity is better than no publicity."
6
Why haven't any of the businesses that sponsor Ms. Minaj (her record label, brands, promoters) condemned her retaliatory and antagonistic behavior? I truly hope one of these corporations involved in her career does the right thing.
34
Well, to be honest, she could have just ignored the comments. They are not being said to her in real life, therefore she has the option to log off from twitter and then delete the tweet and whatnot just to avoid reading “hurtful” things. Cyber bullying does not exist and nobody forced her to bear this situation that could have been avoided had she not stayed in twitter.
Social media participation is now required for many jobs and even careers. For anyone in the entertainment business, you have to be on social media, especially if you're just starting out.
I'm finishing a novel now and I participate in social media so that I can show a prospective agent that I'm ready to promote my work as a writer. It's made very clear in books on finding agents and publishers that you look a lot better to them as an investment if you have some kind of social media following.
This harassment is a very serious issue economically, not just emotionally. When you cause someone to lose their job, you're affecting an entire business, because than that business has an extra hiring and training expense. Plus legal bills and a possible lawsuit.
34
They are being said to her in real life. She lost her real life job. They threatened her real life life.
14
Music use to be the place where it was safe to talk about one's opinion. It use to be met with a simple "Oh, that group is trash" and that was it. Clapback culture is a little too reminiscent of silencing those that say the emperor has no clothes. Everyone has an opinion and this mob mentality of destroying those who we disagree with, just make the rest of us afraid to share those opinions.
Besides, she was right. Nicki is trash and has been for a long time now. Her music is for making money and that means appealing to 12 - 21 year olds. Her music is just popular and popularity doesn't equate to good. Just ask Vanilla Ice.
38
Yet another clear reflection of the overall dumbing down of society... when 'celebrities' have rabid fans who have no lives of their own.... fans who consider the celebrity like family.... who celebrate the celebrity's birthday (can you say 'BeyDay'?? blech!)
Couple that with social media, where pack mentality rules... where those without a life love the drama...the Sharing, the Retweeting...the fireballs spiraling out of control...the public 'fights'.
People need to get their heads out of their devices, and stop worshiping people who are, honestly, not worthy of anybody's worship.
51
Ahhh Americans! There's no limit to how low you'll sink.
23
Hmm, Beyonce demonstrates a messianic complex similar to Michael Jackson, descending from the heavens surrounded by adoring children. Presenting yourself as the Virgin Mary, adorned with saintly halos? Gives one pause. Just no.
8
Nikki Minaj really doesn't have much talent. See the video in the article? "There is no there there." The pace is far too slow for today where kids click to something else if it doesn't immediately grab there attention.
The article mentioned a lackluster response to whatever's been leaked from her forthcoming album. Having songs that don't crack the top 40 is a really hard way to pay the bills and record companies don't keep you around for long as that doesn't pay their bills either. With her personality, those bills ain't cheap.
So the real question is if Vegas is posting odds on when she'll end up in rehab, or a morgue.
6
Not taking criticism quietly is far, far different from this type of ugly and churlish behavior. Believe it or not, every criticism of one's work need not be met with a barrage of hate and insults. Given Ms. Minaj's position in life, was it necessary to conduct herself in such a fashion? Absolutely not.
38
Who is Nicki Minaj?
102
She is a Lady Gaga wannabe. The best she could do was the pink hair. She finally gave up trying.
4
Ripping apart and trying to hurt the lives of critics legitimately expressing their opinions artists is Fascism, no more, no less. It's no different than Trump trying to destroy the lives of HIS critics--Remember Andrew McCabe, deliberately fired on trumped-up charges 2 days before his retirement? That's fascism, too.
When you're an artist, putting yourself out before the world, and, more importantly, selling your product, people have a right to a consumer's review of that product. Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Amazon all do it. Rotten Tomatoes rates movies.
To prevent a critic from presenting an opinion of an artist is to DELIBERATELY cheat the public of criticism, and the ability to evaluate whether that criticism is, indeed valid. To attempt to intimidate critics into silence is the thuggery of FASCISTS!
I don't know jack about Ms. Minaj's music, nor do I care. The critic may be totally off-base, or perfectly spot-on. But Ms. Minaj has acted badly in that she personally attacked the woman offering an honest criticism. She didn't stop her fans from attacking the critic, even tacitly urging them on.
This is wrong. There is no, nor ever has been an artist, in any genre, from Homer to Mozart to Michelangelo, who cannot be and should not be criticized, nor who didn't deserve some legitimate artistic criticism.
Shame on you, Ms. Minaj! You should be better than that. Leave that nastiness to Donald Trump--he's the master of loathsomeness anyway.
33
Great comment, Dadof2.
1
How big a void do you have to have in your life to get so worked up over some fairly benign comments about a pop singer that you would insult or threaten a child? Or any other person?
103
Yet another example of how posting ones opinion on Twitter ruins someone. What good had Twitter ever done anyone? Too much to lose for too little a return.
10
Twitter got that one woman out of the Westborough baptist Church. She met people online that showed her picketing soldiers' funerals isn't a good christian thing to do... so there's that. Otherwise, totally agree.
5
Nikki Minaj is a thin-skinned, petulant, talentless individual who spends more time tearing others down than her own very lightweight creative pursuits. Her last performance on SNL was an exercise in self adoration. Her attitude was. "I've walked on stage, bow down before me, subjects." She hardly sang a note. All the time scowling.
39
It’s called the First Amendment. As a critic, as long as Ms Thompson wasn’t abusive or attacking Ms Minaj, she is free to write objective criticism and her VALID opinions about a public persona’s music. If Minaj doesn’t agree, she’s free to defend the criticism. But that isn’t what she did. She was an abuser and the bully. I hope Minaj pays for this. And yeah, I hope she’s reading my comment.
68
This is not a First Amendment issue. The dispute did not involve the government.
6
She is Canadian, not American. We are not governed by your constitution, believe it or not.
2
The low side of human nature is not new. People have always had the knives out for each other through whispering campaigns, "blackballing" individuals, small town gossip, Hedda Hopper, so-called blind items in the media, etc. The only difference now is there is a means of pulling all of these people together to create a voltron effect of misery against other people.
3
reminds me of the “slam books” that served (anonymously - unless you knew people’s handwriting) this purpose in the 1960’s
5
Many good comments here- perhaps some of you will dare tweet them to The Queen herself- I don’t listen to her music and I certainly won’t give her a minute of my time now after reading this. What an anti role model narcissus.
10
Ms. Thompson has my sympathy. You have to be very careful what you say and how you say anything on social media. It seems that Ms. Minaj cannot take criticism and how her fans react to that criticism says more about them than Ms. Thompson. Saying Ms. MInaj's music is "silly" was being kind.
And for the record, Beyonce is the QUEEN!
12
You're being generous.
2
"the eponymous blog" - an eponym gives its name to something - so unless the blog author is named for the blog then the blog can not be eponymous.
And just in passing, I am pretty confident that Nicki Minaj would understand none of this.
17
Careful now, Joe Coscarelli might have stans.
7
1. (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc, is named: the eponymous heroine in the film of Jane Eyre.
2. (of a literary work, film, etc) named after its central character or creator: the Stooges' eponymous debut album.
eˈponymously adv
1
Navah - it is subtle but you are saying the exact same thing as I am saying. Notice the example is 'the Stooges' eponymous album' it elicits ownership of the album's name by the eponym - the Stooges.
btw - The Stooges are infinitely superior and more interesting than Ms. Minaj with the possible exception of Anaconda.
1
Minaj may be 35 but she's acting like an immature 16 year old.
30
Ms. Thompson has to share the blame for her harassers for not realizing that it's only a bunch of 1's & 0's in quick succession, that "virtual" harassment isn't the same as real-life harassment, and that it can be turned off instantly by turning off instantly from social media.
2
The only thing I'm grateful to Clarence Thomas for is coining the phrase "high-tech lynching" - which is exactly what this is. If the people who run Twitter had any integrity, they would be like the very rare good town sheriff who stopped a lynching. They would delete every account that threatened Ms Thompson and her family. But they won't, because they have no integrity.
19
Just leave social media. Your life will be better for it, I promise.
25
I would honestly be thrilled to receive a DM this funny from someone like Nick Minaj. Also, in what universe is a remote, unpaid internship considered a "profession"? Although I guess if we're going to consider nasty notes from middle schoolers "death threats," we need not strive for accuracy elsewhere.
9
Will, an unpaid internship counts as a profession in the current universe where you cannot enter into your chosen profession without donating your time for free as an intern first.
8
I read interview of sir Richard Branson recently and never saw words : I’m rich !
8
I'm not surprised. I've witnessed awful spats on social media between "stans," and the so-called offending party. In most instances, the stans resort to extreme harassment and psychological abuse to detract from the offender's original point.
I wish that I could state that most celebrity stans are tweens, but many are adults. How it usually works is, the stans prepare for a full cyber attack and keep the celebrity abreast of the battle. The celebrity then feels compelled to respond negatively to the so called offender.
I believe we should have a right to voice our opinion, but one has to think about the potential ramifications (especially if you are posting under your real name). One popular blogger that I follow, was stalked offline and her family and employer was harassed as well. She is now in therapy and on anti-depressants.
Generally speaking, I never tweet about celeb news or gossip. Nor do I comment directly on their activities, because quite frankly, I have more important matters to concern myself with and I don't want the negative backlash that will surely follow.
Ms. Thompson did not deserve to be bullied, but I'm wondering if maybe she used the wrong platform to convey her message about Nicki's content. Twitter doesn't give one enough word space to truly explain their stance. Perhaps she should have utilized her personal website. Posting on her own platform would have given Ms. Thompson, more control over the space and comments.
15
Much ado about less than nothing.
10
no, not really. i think this article speaks to cyberbullying, and points to the larger issue of free speech, and how these "stans" don't really have a grip on what "free speech" means, nor the level of responsibility that comes with it. there's nothing ok about bullying a person because they published an opinion you don't agree with. kids shouldn't learn this, and no one should be afraid to exist/interact online.
21
All this cyberbullying. Where's Melania?
2
Ms. Johnson, if you have a chance to read this, I hope you know there are people who stand with you. It is a pity that fans have become idol worshipers who vilify and vituperate others in defense of a person that clearly cannot take criticism. Look at it this way, you brought down a notch someone who was tittering on a pedestal. I hope and pray you will find peace amidst the chaos and clear abuse. You will rise up from the ashes sooner than later!
17
This is completely unacceptable behavior and a reflection of our current values. Ms. Minaj should be ashamed of herself, but I doubt she is capable of self-reflection. She is too busy looking at her created image in eyes of her "adoring" fans. This is bullying. Pure and simple.
25
To lose your job over this. Shame on that employer. Shame on classless NM.
29
This dumpster fire called "Social Media" is nothing but a bottomless pit of spite and jealousies. I'm shock Miss Minaji would even bother to respond. Maybe the critique struck a nerve. If we're going to believe in the flame thrower this much, then we all get burned eventually.
12
Lots of tweeters should grow up. What's new?
3
Social media seems like a hive of scum and villainy... and not the lighthearted, swashbucklery kind.
4
It seems abundantly clear that having a twitter account where you immediately publish any fleeting thoughts to an audience wider than even newspaper publishing titans of the past ever imagined is a bad idea.
The most valuable commodity of the next decade will probably be privacy. Hold on to it while you still can. Say that tweet to yourself or a close friend, chuckle and enjoy being able to move on.
18
"The most valuable commodity of the next decade will probably be privacy." @Sean, that is the most prescient comment regarding the technology-centric world we live in! Excellent!
3
She's right (Ms. Thompson). I guess Nicki Minaj felt threatened, the need to protect her "talent" and what has made her money rich. The best response should've been no response. Just unbothered (by it all). That what critics think about her is none of her business. But instead she gave life to a story that most likely would've been a footnote; here today, gone tomorrow.
16
She started a fire that blazed out of control but now she's the victim. Come on now. When even the president of the US goes on the attack in response to criticism, did she really expect Nicki or anyone else for that matter to take her criticism quietly?
1
It might help to do those things but ultimately there is no way to stay off social media. If you have a confrontation with someone in public, even over a trivial thing, they may snap a pic of you at just the wrong moment and post it online. By the time you get home you could be the target of the next great online shaming campaign. The mob won't need your Facebook or Twitter; they'll find you in a heartbeat, harass your family and friends, call up your employer, etc.
6
I remember way back when, before the internet, people listened to and liked all sorts of different music. And if someone you knew didn't like a band, or a performer, that you did, there was some good natured ribbing and/or debating and that was that. Ultimately, if we and the Soviets weren't on the brink of war, it was a good day. Now we have a Soviet puppet in the White House and even mild critism of a performer means death threats from thousands of strangers. I can't wrap my head around it.
17
Artists need to be able to take criticism. If Ms. Minaj can't take perfectly legitimate and civil criticism from someone trying to enter the profession of music critic, then she needs to leave show business right away. She's just too thin-skinned and immature for the industry.
4
If we all had any sense, we'd stay off social media entirely. No Facebook, no Twitter. I think over the past few years it's become obvious humans weren't supposed to be so easily connected to each other.
40
It's outrageous that Nicki Minaj felt the need to call that young woman ugly over legitimate critizim of her work. To add injury to insult, that young woman also gets fired from her internship.
In the era of #MeToo and the discussion of how men have used their power to hinder the careers of women, it would also be nice to begin a discussion of how women treat other women and how toxic female relationships also play a role in maintaining the glass ceiling.
125
She should have researched who her BOSS worked with before posting her opinion on Ms. Minaj. Work 101- know what your company does, and who you company does business with. Hope the click-baits she got as well as the attention work for her career.
That company hired a music critic as their intern. Demanding the music critic that they hired not to criticize artists they are doing business with is dishonest and unethical.
6
There's no excuse for this bullying so please stop trying to make them.
6
It's unfortunate the group bullying mentality is so easily acted upon in this day, from Minaj to Trump.
38
If it didn't happen on the internet then it didn't happen, right? I don't recall news stories about such drama in social life before the internet...
9
Dear Ms Thompson,
I hope after people read this story they can relate to you and hopefully change the way their are treating you in social media. No one should do this to you. No Minaj and not her fans. You did nothing wrong. The world sometimes is like this, like crazy. Hopefully all this go away and you can find a job soon. Also, I really really hope to hear an apology from Ms Minaj. Otherwise, she showed the world what she really is. Good Luck!
36
Wow...less is more. Let the music speak for itself. Civility will never get old.
5
Gross. Niki M will never have my ear and this is exactly why. Where is the power in destroying a fan? Or is it just to stoke the fire of your "base"? Hmmmm. Sounds like the public airwaves we are living in.
So immature.
26
Mob mentality and punching down. Lovely internet behavior.
34
Nicki Minaj a role model, just like the Big Brother cast, the Bachelor, J-Z and Beyoncé, Drake, Snoop, House wives of (you fill in the blank), Jersey shore cast, The Trump clan, Odell .........should I continue. Yet so many are enthralled with these people????
27
Sorry, but I wouldn't put J-Z and Beyonce in the same category with "The Trump clan". They go about their business making music and doing their business. And for the most part, they stay off of social media -- which is probably they can drop an entire album without the world knowing about it -- and they're not out to swindle the
American public. In fact, Beyonce IS a role model to a lot of girls and women. I understand what you're trying to say, but let's not just put in names of people/ stars you may not like to try to make that point.
6
No, they belong there too......
1
Play with the snake and get bit....don't cry about it.
2
Wanna Thompson, 26, long considered herself a Nicki Minaj fan IS RIGHT!!
And this applies to the rest of today’s “Hip Hop” community. With everything that is going on in the community, what’s happening to this country in the Trump era, WHERE ARE Y’ALL at? !?!??
Yes, I’m an old school head, but I am still waiting on the 2018 offspring of KRS-ONE, Chuck D, Mos Def (the pre-flipped out version), Talib Kwali....Hell even Tupac and some Rawkus records one-off fools to spit into the mike on the state of today’s Union. They all passed the torch, from one generation to the next, and now know one here has the courage (or maybe the talent, courage and knowledge) to pick it up.
Old school fools like me are not asking for much, we still wanna hear fun stuff, and bob our heads. But many more of us need to be WOKEN UP!
You have a mic, be responsible!
32
The new level of immaturity. How low can you go in the world of social media? So utterly stupid!!
Can't people act in a mature and intelligent manner? Does there always have to be mob rule?
Doesn't this woman have the right to express an opinion of someone's music if it's done in a respectful manner? Please people, we all have a right to express our opinions. Please make an attempt to do it in an intelligent, adult-like manner.
29
There was a song written long ago by a person with much more talent and maturity than Ms. Minaj. It's opening lyrics perfectly summarize the motivation of her online fans: "I look at all the lonely people..."
13
Welp, I think this whole thing answers whether Ms. Minaj is considering going in a newer mature direction.
142
I'm on the internet and I didn't even know about this cat fight (is there a cute cat video that goes along with it). Thanks for cluing me in NYTimes! I'm with Anthony from San Antonio: Perhaps Ms. Minaj could advise her fans to use that same energy to support efforts such as 'Get Out To Vote.'
32
Perhaps Ms. Minaj could advise her fans to use that same energy to support efforts such as 'Get Out To Vote.'
112
That would require a level of maturity on the part of Ms. Minaj that she demonstrably lacks.
2
It seems especially off putting that this level of bullying occurred in response to a fairly vanilla comment: a MUSIC CRITIC saying she thought a lot of Nicki's music lacked maturity, and she thought Nicki was capable of putting out music with more depth and should do so. It wasn't a personal attack, it hardly even qualifies as an "attack". The comment implies that Ms. Thompson believed Nicki could write and record more "mature" songs and believed she had a certain level of maturity due to life experience. Clearly her reaction disproved that.
What worries me even more is the blind following of hundreds of fans, acting blindly on the guidance of someone they idolize but probably have never met. It's one thing to love an artist for their art, another to love them for good things they have done for others and the world, and another to know them personally and value them based on a genuine connection. But blindly worshipping someone whose music speaks to you is dangerous and ill advised. It would serve one better to admire those who create great things and do great work, while still retaining the ability to think critically about their actions and turn away from those who use their public platform to spread messages that are immature, dangerous, malicious, unkind or unjust.
163
I remember when the Internet consisted of nerds like myself chatting in rooms. When Netscape was king, I ordered my first pizza online (thank you Pizza Hut), and the news was free. And, if I recall, very little to no "comment sections".
What we are seeing now is not what I experienced almost 30 years ago. It reminds of feeding someone to the Lions in ancient Rome. I deleted all social media accounts. I want no part of what is going on now.
64
So many suffering from terminal Middle School. Good thing they spend much time staring at the shining rectangle, trapped in their dwellings, and not out where life is actually happening.
46
You know how dope it would be if Nicki put out mature content? Just reflecting on past relationships, being a boss, hardships, etc. She’s touching 40 soon, a new direction is needed.
(OK, I actually don't know her music, just seeing if this gets me more followers, cause that's important.)
15
Celebrity does not equal talent.
48
Or, apparently, basic human decency.
24
This is disgraceful. To Ms. Thompson's point, Ms. Minaj clearly has a lot of maturing to do. Any responsible adult artist would recognize the power dynamic involved given their celebrity, and the commentator's relative lack of, and use that power to ask fans to stand down. Not to mention, for all her prior talk of solidarity, Ms. Minaj allowed her fans to attack another black woman, who is also a mother whose child is also receiving threats, but most relevant -- Ms. Thompson is a cultural critic. That is her career. Press and entertainers have always gone hand-in-hand, for better or worse. While Ms. Minaj certainly endures an intense and persistent level of critique as a celebrity, she is a public figure, and critique comes with the territory. Ms. Thompson did not attack Ms. Minaj's personal appearance or family, but commented on the very thing that makes Ms. Minaj a public figure which is her music -- that is more than fair game. Ms. Minaj needs to grow up and develop a thicker skin. I'm 31 and think her behavior is childish and immature, but on top of all of that, it's irresponsible and dangerous.
130
Artists like Ms.Minaj should expect better from their fans and address this behavior. Ms.Thompson should remind herself that the vast majority of these harassers are preteens on their iPhones that their parents had no business buying for them.
There really needs to be a mental capacity screening prior to signing up for any social media. These unthinking followers, likers, retweeters etc. have so far gifted us Trump and pathetic stories like this.
16
Wanna Thompson was right.
57
Calling for explicit content in Rap hardly seems ground shaking. Though a stupid suggestion none of this seems called for.
Ms. Thompson meant mature themes, as in grown-up, maturity, not mature as in explicit content.
18
That only makes the outrage seem that much more absurd. Thanks
1
Two major issues with social media collide:
1) The ability of people to express some strange sense of ownership over someone else’s creative works (music, film, articles, whatever)
2) This idea that somehow everyone is entitled to have a direct conversation with everyone else, especially the creators of said works
Twitter is horrible since it enables and magnifies the above two problems.
You have the right to speak, but you don’t necessarily have the right to be heard.
18
So Ms. Minaj is another spoiled celebrity with a overblown sense of her own importance and entitlement that precludes anyone from having an opinion different than hers. Perhaps as someone in the public spotlight, she should develop thicker skin and just ignore critics. Or better yet, analyse the data and use it to grow when it is constructive criticism. I guess the truth hurts sometimes Nicki heh?
133
Firing an unpaid music writing intern (!) for having an opinion about music sets a very bad precedent. I'm not surprised though, and that's why most people ignore music criticism now. Also, she's right. Get it together, Nicki.
239
I feel as if my world is surrounded by thin skinned celebs, politicians, a president and wannabes who jump at the slightest insult (was that really an insult?) to growl and preen on line to no end at all except self gratification and adulation. Thank God most of the actual people I know don't behave this way, real life does provide some solace for the way of the world if you have a real life.
73
Wow. It shows how written thoughts can get out of control. Ms. Minaj doesn't appear t have helped matters, either. It's kind of like a public gang mentality- everyone piles on.
I hope that the intern gets to start over somewhere and that Ms. Minaj and her followers learn how to chill.
20
I am not a fan of Ms Minaj for this very reason. She is so full of herself that it spoils any talent she has. Ms Thompson is entitled to her opinion, just like what I think of Ms Minaj is my opinion. Shame on Ms Minaj and she definitely needs to grow up.
174
Well, so much for disproving the doubt of your maturity, Ms. Minaj.
256
Nobody has been more bullied in America than Nicki Minaj. Since last year after Remy wrote a scathing diss that body shamed and dragged her name through the mad, it seems like everybody feels like they can pick on her. I'm pretty sure she went on a media break due to depression but off course you people never stop. I guess you you will stop when she kills herself.
1
The word 'fan' is short for fanatic. Very apt in this case.
These hostile fans need to quit flaming Wanna Thompson. It's music, people are allowed to have different tastes. Thompson even likes Nicki Minaj! She was posting constructive criticism, not lobbing bombs.
Something is wrong with you when you attack someone and post pictures of their young child online, because you didn't like their OPINION about some music. That's dumb, and hateful.
30
I guess you missed the memo but Minaj is the one doing the bullying this time, so maybe she should stop.
15
You know, there are laws that are intended to prevent the incitement of harm against others. Celebrities who have these "stans" need to be more careful of the things that they say and do online, less they find themselves culpable for the actions of others which result in the harm of innocent parties.
This "que tiennes mas macho" for artists and their fans only shows their stupidity and lack of maturity.
So yes Nikki... You just showed the whole world that you do not understand the concept of cogent and reasonable criticism.
62
The election of Donald Trump becomes clearer and clearer. Sad!
15
Donald Trump fans are Nicki Minaj fans. Yeah, right.
3
I would hazard the guess that Ms. Minaj’s fans are not mature enough to vote. Or that those who are old enough don’t bother because it requires actual physical effort as compared to the relative ease of cyber bullying.
Social media has really made the world a better place, hasn't it?
93
One would expect Nicki Minaj to be mature and sophisticated. Instead we see a woman who is immature and a bully. It's like watching Trump in action.
185
Why on earth would “one” expect Nicki to be mature and sophisticated??
Asking for a friend.
7
Ho hum. People leading lives of not so quiet distraction. Likely the same people who do not participate in civic life, other than to elect an equally hostile reality star to the presidency.
Will the last civilized person please turn off the light?
16
I don't think there is much cross over between Nicki Minaj's fan base and Donald Trump's supporters...
They can still be bad people without liking DT lol
2
I suspect that Ms. Minaj’s fans are apolitical. Too much effort compared to cyber bullying. In this case, voting can have a similar effect as voting for Mr. Trump.
Although these fans do imitate his style of attack so maybe I’m wrong.
1
Point 1: Twitterverse is a bizarre & scary place. Point 2: if you're gonna go gangsta on NM, you should expect blowback and no end to pettiness...
5
I'm beginning to think that people can get addicted to anger and resentment. I don't know how else to explain the incredible spiral of ugliness that leads to mob action on social media. Everybody makes mistakes, but when our responses are meant to 'own' people and do so in a nanosecond, there isn't space for understanding or grace. Where does that lead? Nowhere I want to go.
75
This is why I don't listen to what they call todays music. Ms. Minaj can thank autotune and her sound engineer for making her sound good. Also why The Beatles music still rings true and is still being played 50+ years later. Also Mozart, Copeland, Beethoven, etc. and why her music won't be played.
What a class act her fans are. (Not).
43
I don't think it's fair to generalize - every group in every possible realm of life has its crazies. Beatlemania was a thing and like many pop music fans, most are young and impressionable.
A note about "today's music". Music is much more than the Beatles, or pop, or classical music. Taste is entirely subjective and widespread popularity/longevity doesn't always mean talent (applies to both music and celebrities). Autotune can also be used in wonderful and creative ways. I'm neutral about Minaj but for a female to break into any male-dominated area like hip-hop and be successful is commendable. But she has some growing up to do.
7
well -
Isn't it sad they women don't rule the world because they (we!?) are so more compassionate and understanding than men?
Apparently Fearless Leader Trump and his "stans" aren't the only ones with paper thin skins, and an addiction to anger and insult. Pathetic.
23
This is so sad. Sounds like the writer didn't do her homework, and knowing what she should know about "stans" should have thought this through. Too bad, Ms.Minaj reacted the way she did.
5
Unfortunately, Ms.Minaj reacted the only way she knows how.
39
There's absolutely no excuse for this type of vicious reaction. That's the only issue here.
29
This is just an example of the dark side of the internet and social media in general. As an individual that grew up way before there was an internet I can see the good and destructive element of this very power communication tool. It gives people the feeling that they can say or do whatever they wouldn't say face to face with a person.
Our society needs to learn some kind of internet manners or we will soon be at each other's throats about something that was said and misinterpreted.
46
“You have a responsibility as a public figure to present yourself in a certain way”
In this Trump era, I no longer feel this holds (unfortunately).
18