The Untold Truth Of Nicki Minaj's Husband
Nicki Minaj's relationship with hubby Kenneth Petty has been nothing short of controversial. The pair, who, according to People, have been "Instagram official" since December 2018, tied the knot in October of 2019 after only a year of dating. On Oct. 21, 2019, the rapper took to her Instagram page, to show off the couple's matching "Mr." and "Mrs." mugs and coordinating "Bride" and "Groom" baseball hats. Cute, right?
Well, not quite. In fact, many fans are actually worried about Minaj's relationship with the music industry professional. As it turns out, Petty has a pretty serious criminal record (more on that later), and considering Minaj's history of dating toxic men, it's safe to say her "Barbz" only want what's best for the rapper.
On Sept. 6, 2019, Minaj shocked fans when she announced her retirement from music, explaining that she wanted to focus on starting a family with Petty. In a since-deleted tweet Minaj wrote (via Fox News), "I've decided to retire & have my family. I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me." While her "retirement" didn't last long, with Minaj releasing new music in late September 2019, it appears that her marriage is still going strong.
Needless to say, it's certainly alarming that Minaj is settling down with a former criminal, so we've done some digging to find out even more about Petty. Here is the untold truth of Nicki Minaj's husband.
Nicki Minaj and her husband were childhood friends
Although Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty didn't become Instagram official until December 2018, the two have actually known each other for years. According to TMZ, who initially broke the news in 2018, sources close to the "MEGATRON" rapper claim Minaj has known Petty since she was "a 16-year-old living in Queens." Petty was allegedly "one of her first loves."
Since making their Instagram debut, the artist has shared photos of the two when they were children on her account, even writing about their flirtatious nature back in the day. "When we were younger I liked his nose & he liked that tooth sticking out my mouth," she wrote, adding, "I hated having to smile cuz I didn't want anyone to see it ... he still brings that tooth up all the time. He says he misses it."
So, how exactly did these lovebirds rekindle their romance? A source told Us Weekly that it all happened after Minaj went back to Queens, N.Y., in 2018 for a charity event. "They linked up when she handed out turkeys for Thanksgiving in her hometown," the insider dished. As for Petty's criminal record? Although Minaj has faced quite a bit of criticism, she's seemingly unfazed. "She's happy and in love," an insider close to the rapper told TMZ. "He's not going anywhere."
Kenneth Petty was arrested in March 2020
On March 4, 2020, Kenneth Petty made headlines after turning himself into federal custody, as reported by USA Today. According to the outlet, Petty is a registered sex offender and he failed to register as such in California, "as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)." As it turns out, Mr. Nicki Minaj has had plenty of time to register considering the fact that he moved to Los Angeles with the "Starships" rapper in July 2019.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Petty was "convicted of first-degree attempted rape in April 1995. He was 16 at the time, and so was his victim." The outlet also notes that, "Prosecutors said he used a sharp object when he tried to force the girl to have sexual intercourse. Petty served almost 4 years in NY state prison for the crime."
In light of Petty's arrest, the lovebirds' future is looking quite foggy. Per Us Weekly, although Minaj's husband was released the day of his arrest after posting a $20,000 bond, he still has to appear in court for his trial scheduled on April 28, 2020. As a source told the outlet, "If convicted of the federal charge, Petty could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison."
Kenneth Petty has an ugly criminal past
In addition to being a convicted sex offender, Kenneth Petty has a pretty terrifying rap sheet. According to TMZ, in 2002, Petty shot a man named Lamont Robinson three times in the stomach in Queens. The attack was allegedly part of a gang hit. As court documents revealed, although Robinson died shortly after the attack, he was still able to identify Petty in a photo lineup given to him by the police. TMZ explains, "Kenneth was initially charged with 2nd-degree murder, but pled guilty to a lesser charge of 1st-degree manslaughter. He served 7 years in prison, and got released in 2013."
You'd think Petty's time in prison would have smartened him up, but the criminal was written up a whopping 18 times during his time behind bars. Years after his release, Petty found his name in the tabs once more. In a since-deleted post, Petty's ex, Noelle Dobie, took to Instagram to describe an incident where a man allegedly came over to her house in an attempt to kill her. Posting a photo of a blood-stained kitchen floor, Dobie wrote (via Ace Showbiz) that someone "Came to shoot me in my own home and dropped your gun!! I'm out of commission for a few. Pray for me." While Petty was never tied to the alleged attack, given his history, it certainly wasn't great that his name was associated with yet another negative headline.
Only time will tell how Petty's trial plays out, but, at least for now, it appears that Nicki Minaj is standing by her man.