Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness hits out at Nicki Minaj for Russian Harper’s Bazaar cover
Nicki Minaj pulled out of a concert in Saudi Arabia to show support for women and LGBT+ people. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness has hit out at Nicki Minaj following her Harper’s Bazaar cover.
The 35-year-old singer has graced the August issue of the fashion mag, but the pro groomer, 31, has tweeted his anger at what he feels should have been a “hard pass.”
Posting a picture of the cover, the Netflix favourite wrote: “Russia has anti LGBTQIA propaganda laws, Chechnya supported by Russia tortures it’s LGBTQIA citizens, & w your LGBTQ+ fans you can’t even speak to that in this interview bc it’s illegal in Russia, what’s good @NICKIMINAJ , this should’ve been a hard pass.”
Russia has anti LGBTQIA propaganda laws, Chechnya supported by Russia tortures it’s LGBTQIA citizens, & w your LGBTQ+ fans you can’t even speak to that in this interview bc it’s illegal in Russia, what’s good @NICKIMINAJ , this should’ve been a hard pass. pic.twitter.com/6WqZdXSKKl
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) July 13, 2018
However, the post divided fans.
Some applauded Van Ness, with one follower leading the way, responding: “A strong gay voice calling out this hypocrisy and poor judgments by those who ally themselves to LGBTQ+ is so [needed] and overdue.”
But many others were riled at his attack on Minaj.
One wrote: “The woman literally logs to promote her new magazine shoot, and the first thing y’all do is attack her over some anti-LGBTQ+ drama with Russia that has absolutely nothing to do with her.”
A second added: “You all are obsessed with trying to tear Nicki Minaj down, & it’s very creepy + disturbing.”
Another tweeted: “Wow, use your platform to raise awareness, don’t tarnish another person’s image because she didn’t conform to your expectations. She has fans in Russia who love seeing her, and you’re asking her to deny her fans because of their government is unfair.”
Jonathan Van Ness’s comments on Nicki Minaj’s Russian Haper’s Bazaar cover has divided fans (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Vulture Festival)
Someone else stated: “love, admire, and honor you man but not sure it’s your call to decide how Nicki traverses her identity exposition. LGBTQIA+ rights not her only consideration here, even if you and I wish they were forefront in everyone’s mind.”
And a fifth person wrote: “sorry, but WHAT???people in Russia love Nicki and there’re a lot of lgbtq+ people, who just love her if I live in Russia I can’t buy this magazine? can’t listen to her music?”
While a man who said he was gay and Russian added that they fact the magazine has a black woman on the cover in his “racist” country is something that should be celebrated.
The singer is regarded by many as an LGBTQ ally (Ellen)
Minaj is yet to respond, but Van Nes later returned to Twitter to maintain his position but insist he wasn’t trying to cause arguments.
He tweeted: “Anyway really happy today, didn’t mean to start a Twitter war, I’m just disappointed in some people from where I’m sitting in life & start noticing things. Biggest hug to eryone.”
The Trinidadian-American rapper is regarded as many as an LGBTQ ally, and in 2011 sent a message of support to people who were feeling suicidal due to their sexuality.
She said: “I would encourage my gay fans to be fighters and to be brave. People face difficulties, no matter who you are. I faced difficulties with a lot of things. I face opposition every day, but I didn’t kill myself and now, thank God, I’m here. So I want my life to be a testimony to my fans and my gay fans.”
