The Prime Minister has criticised the rapper Nicki Minaj over her stance on coronavirus vaccines.
Chart-topping rapper Minaj revealed she was not vaccinated ahead of the Met Gala, a glamorous event in New York known as fashion’s biggest night, which required attendees to have been jabbed.
She also shared an unsubstantiated story on social media about a man who allegedly became impotent after being vaccinated.
Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a media briefing in Downing Street.
Dan Kitwood
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “I’m not as familiar with the works of Nicki Minaj as I probably should be, but I’m familiar with Nikki Kanani, superstar GP of Bexley who has appeared many times before you, who will tell you that vaccines are wonderful and everybody should get them.
“So I prefer to listen to Nikki Kanani.”
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty also dismissed Minaj’s “untrue” claims.
Addressing Minaj’s comments linking the vaccine to impotence, he told the press conference: “There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous and some of which are clearly designed just to scare.
Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty, during a media briefing in Downing Street.
Hannah McKay
“That happens to be one of them.”
Prof Whitty said the “great majority” of people want to get vaccinated and added that people who knowingly share vaccine disinformation should be “ashamed”.
Minaj later hit back at Mr Johnson in a video posted on Twitter alongside a message saying to “send this to the prime minister & let him know they lied on me. I forgive him. No-one else. Only him.”
In Minaj’s video, a voice putting on an English accent said: “Yes, hello Prime Minister Boris, it’s Nicki Minaj.
“I was just calling to tell you that I thought you were so amazing on the news this morning and I’m actually British.
“I was born there, I went to university there, I went to Oxford.
“I went to school with Margaret Thatcher and she told me so many nice things about you.
“I’d love to send you my portfolio of my work, since you don’t know much about me.
“I’m a big, big star in the United States.”
Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, had previously tweeted: “My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent.
“His testicles became swollen.
“His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding.
“So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied.”
Minaj, who has said she previously caught coronavirus, told fans on Twitter she was still researching vaccines.
“They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won’t for the Met,” she wrote.
“It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research.
“I’m working on that now.
“In the meantime my loves, be safe.
“Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face.
“Not that loose one.”
Impotence is not listed as a potential side effect on the NHS website.
