Heading into this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, much hoopla was made when Nicki Minaj took to her Twitter account and blasted MTV, citing racism and sexism after being snubbed for a nomination for the Video Of The Year category. In her rant, she made light of a certain body type that MTV prefers, claiming that the white media does not champion curvaceous women of color.
If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year. I’m not always confident. Just tired. Black women influence pop culture so much, but are rarely rewarded for it.
A few days later, the host of this year’s show, Miley Cyrus was asked about Nicki Minaj’s sentiments and had this to say.
If you do things with an open heart and you come at things with love, you would be heard and I would respect your statement. But I don’t respect your statement because of the anger that came with it,” Cyrus said. “And it’s not anger like, ‘Guys, I’m frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.’ You made it about you. Not to sound like a bitch, but that’s like, ‘Eh, I didn’t get my VMA.’
As the awards got underway, Minaj took to the stage and opened up the show with a performance of “Trini Dem Girls” and later won the award for Best Hip Hop Video for “Anaconda.” During her acceptance speech, she threw some very direct shots at the shows host, Miley Cyrus.
Back to this bitch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press; Miley, what’s good?
After being confronted, Miley opted to keep it civil.
Hey, we’re all in this industry, we all do interviews and we all know how they manipulate sh-t. Nicki, congratulations.
I would like to go on record and say that I champion women of color who have curves. – Rocko Rathon (@Rocko_CNK)
