Nicki Minaj has been accused of using Nazi Imagery in her Only music video, but recently apologized to fans and anyone offended by the images in the video.
Minaj tweeted her apology and while she took responsibility for the video and the images, she said that she did not mean to offend anyone, that the imagery and theme was not her idea and that she thought the artist who made the lyric video got the idea from a cartoon.
She also made sure that all of her fans understood that she had nothing to do with making the video and that many of the people who helped work on it were Jewish themselves.
The artist who made the lyric video for “Only” was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called "Metalocalypse" & Sin City.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014
Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014
I didn't come up w/the concept, but I'm very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I'd never condone Nazism in my art.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014
While Nicki was quick to apologize, her director was not, and actually defended the video.
“Before I start, be clear that these are my personal views and not the views of Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, or Young Money. First, I’m not apologizing for my work, nor will I dodge the immediate question. The flags, armbands, and gas mask (and perhaps my use of symmetry?) are all representative of Nazism,” he said in a statement he posted on MySpace.
“As far as an explanation, I think it’s actually important to remind younger generations of atrocities that occurred in the past as a way to prevent them from happening in the future. And the most effective way of connecting with people today is through social media and pop culture. So if my work is misinterpreted because it’s not a sappy tearjerker, sorry I’m not sorry. What else is trending?” he added.
While neither Nicki nor her director intended for the video to be offensive, many people were offended. Nicki’s apology seemed sincere and most of her fans have forgiven her. The director’s defense may have just made things worse.
What do you think of the director’s statement?