Cedric The Entertainer Throws Major Shade At Nicki Minaj At The Emmys
This year's Emmy Awards feels more like a real award show and less of the virtual and in-person hybrid, as audiences have become accustomed to during the coronavirus pandemic. The award show, which is taking place in Los Angeles, is being put on in large part thanks to the COVID-19 protocols the Television Academy put in place.
For this year's show, there was a limited audience: Only around 500 people were allowed in the venue, per Variety, compared to the traditional thousands in years past. In addition, the traditional Governors Ball — the official after-party of the Primetime Emmy Awards — is not being held, and all attendees were required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine and a negative COVID test before entering the venue.
Given that coronavirus is still raging in many states, including California where the award show is being held, safety has been a top priority. But despite the seriousness of safety, that didn't stop this year's host, Cedric the Entertainer, from throwing major shade toward Nicki Minaj about the pandemic. This is what went down.
Cedric the Entertainer poked fun at Nicki Minaj
While on stage, Cedric the Entertainer joked about being vaccinated and included the name of a certain someone who has made her stance on vaccines clear. "I got vaxxed. I did not have a reaction like Nicki Minaj's cousin's friend," he reportedly joked to the audience. The diss came after Minaj revealed that she would not be in attendance of the 2021 Met Gala due to the vaccination requirement.
"If I get vaccinated it won't [be] for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now," she tweeted on September 13. Minaj then went on to say that her cousin's friend in Trinidad was vaccinated and had a negative reaction to the vaccine, causing his testicles to swell and consequently ruining his wedding.
Many were concerned about Minaj possibly spreading doubt about the vaccine to her fanbase following her tweet. "She should be thinking twice about propagating information that really has no basis except a one-off anecdote, and that's not what science is all about," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said to CNN in response to Minaj's rant (via Page Six). The vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing infection, but the CDC notes that the vaccine does prevent serious symptoms of coronavirus. It seems Cedric the Entertainer was hoping to shed light on Minaj's misinformation with a bit of humor at this year's Emmys.
Nicki Minaj has found an unexpected ally
Even though Nicki Minaj was not in attendance at the 2021 Met Gala or the 2021 Emmys, she still managed to be a topic of conversation in and around the industry in the past week. Cedric the Entertainer's comments about her bizarre anti-vaxxing tweets did nothing to calm the firestorm the embattled rapper is now facing.
After Minaj's tweets about her cousin's friend's embarrassing medical problem (it's worth stating once again that there are no reported cases with such symptoms in Trinidad), the White House reportedly reached out to Minaj and offered to answer any questions she had about the vaccine, per NBC. At this point, as far as we know, Minaj did not take them up on their offer.
While many are distancing themselves from Minaj, Rose McGowan is apparently standing by Minaj through it all. "Both [Minaj and I] know the powerful elite & it's likely you do not. If you are freaking out because she said something you don't believe, it's most likely because you are scared to examine the thought too closely," McGowan wrote on Instagram under a TikTok video of herself speaking out in support of the performer on September 17. "Millionaires have become billionaires, billionaires are now trillionaires. think. question. just cos you want to believe what your cult leaders say, doesn't make it fact." Make of that what you will, but it's worth noting that McGowan was not in attendance at this year's Emmys or Met Gala.
The barbz are going to bat for Minaj
Nicki Minaj might not be the most popular gal in Hollywood right now, but that doesn't mean her fans have turned their back on her just yet. In fact, some are so dedicated to Minaj that they actually organized a protest at the CDC after her COVID tweets went viral. On September 17, dozens of fans showed up in front of the CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
"Nicki told the truth to me! Fauci lied to me!" they reportedly chanted in unison, per Page Six. "We are here because the CDC has been lying to us for so long," a protestor told CBS46 at the scene. "We should all question this vaccine!," said another. Speaking to the outlet, a doctor who works for the CDC reiterated once again just how far off base Minaj's claims were. "We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and they don't affect men or women's fertility," he said, adding that Minaj should use her large social media platform more responsibly.
Since the fallout, Minaj has not been active on Twitter, claiming the website blocked her from using her account after she was accused of spreading misinformation. Twitter, however, claimed they did not, per CNet. In the meantime, while some eagerly await Minaj's return to the Twitter-verse, the FDA is working to secure vaccines for children under 16 and extra doses for the immunocompromised.