Rapper Nicki Minaj has found herself at the centre of a major social media storm after her public appearance at a conservative political event, leading to the mysterious disappearance of her Instagram account and a reported loss of millions of followers. The controversy erupted after she participated in an interview at the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) AmericaFest conference.
Political Stance Sparks Social Media Backlash
The incident unfolded on December 21, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. Minaj attended the TPUSA event for a conversation with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. During the interview, the Anaconda singer expressed her frustrations with California Governor Gavin Newsom and explained her reasons for embracing the conservative movement, explicitly highlighting her support for former President Donald Trump.
Following this appearance, multiple reports surfaced claiming that Minaj lost approximately 10 million followers on Instagram. While these figures could not be independently verified by all outlets, a noticeable dip was observed. Data indicated her follower count fell from around 227.5 million in November 2025 to roughly 223.8 million by December 2025.
Instagram Account Goes Dark Amid Controversy
Adding fuel to the fire, Minaj's official Instagram handle, @nickiminaj, became unavailable on the platform. It appears the rapper either deleted or deactivated her Meta-owned account. As of now, she has not provided any public clarification regarding the account's disappearance. Despite her absence on Instagram, she remains active on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Fox News legal analyst Emily Compagno commented on the situation, suggesting that while Minaj "may have lost followers on social media, she has gained the respect of many."
Feud with Heidi N Closet and Family History Dig
The political backlash was quickly followed by personal criticism. Drag queen Heidi N Closet took a public dig at Minaj, calling her "MAGA Minaj" in a viral post that referenced past disagreements over hair and makeup. Minaj clapped back by pointedly correcting a grammatical error in Heidi's post.
Heidi N Closet later posted another indirect jab, stating, "The mug and hair was a chop that day I can admit that!! However something I can say is I never have nor will stand with pedos." This remark was widely interpreted as a reference to the criminal histories of Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, and her brother, Jelani Maraj, both of whom have prior rape convictions involving minors.
Amber Rose Rushes to Minaj's Defence
Amid the intense criticism, model and media personality Amber Rose voiced strong support for Nicki Minaj. In an interview with TMZ, Rose defended Minaj's right to a political opinion, stating, "We live in a free country. She has a right to her own political opinion just like everyone else does."
Rose vehemently denied that supporting Trump equated to being homophobic or transphobic. "She didn’t say anything about the LGBTQ+ community at all," Rose said. "I’m not homophobic... I have a bunch of trans friend — so does Nicki." She emphasized that Minaj's political endorsement should not be twisted into an attack on her character regarding the LGBTQ+ community.
This is not the first time Minaj has shown support for conservative figures; she has also praised JD Vance in the past and recently voiced support for Christians in Nigeria. The disappearance of her Instagram account marks a significant moment in the ongoing intersection of celebrity culture and political affiliation, demonstrating the tangible consequences stars can face for their public political alignments.
