Police descended on Nicki Minaj’s Los Angeles residence Wednesday evening following a fabricated emergency call, marking the latest in a series of swatting attempts targeting the rap superstar.
What’s swatting? It’s the action or practice of making a fake emergency call to emergency services or police lines in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers, generally SWAT team personnel, to a particular address.
Some times swatting can lead to deadly outcomes.
Authorities responded to a call received around 7 PM through the L.A. County Sheriff’s business line, not the 911 emergency system, according to reports. The anonymous caller falsely reported an assault involving a shooting at the Hidden Hills property where Minaj resides. Deputies arriving at the scene found the home empty with no evidence of criminal activity.
This dangerous and immature hoax represents at least the third swatting incident against Minaj since summer 2023, following previous false reports of a shooting and child abuse at her residence. The latest prank comes amid heightened concern about swatting’s potentially deadly consequences, underscored by a recent Atlanta tragedy where a man died fleeing police responding to a fabricated assault report.
Law enforcement confirmed Minaj and her family were away from the California property during Wednesday’s incident. The sheriff’s department has classified the call as a swatting case, where perpetrators make false emergency reports to trigger armed police responses.
Thankfully no injuries resulted from this latest hoax, the incident highlights ongoing security concerns for high-profile celebrities targeted by swatting schemes. Authorities continue investigating the source of the false report.