It may seem like a trivial joke, but the spat between rapper Nicki Minaj, Boris Johnson, and Chris Whitty could have dangerous consequences, says Eva Simpson.
I reported on countless showbiz spats in my time as a 3 am columnist, most of which seemed to involve Noel Gallagher and Lily Allen, who could both start a fight in an empty room.
But I’ve never come across anything as random as the clash that pitted US star Nicki Minaj against Chris Whitty and Boris Johnson. On Tuesday, the surreal war of words erupted after Minaj posted an unsubstantiated message on social media about Covid-19 vaccines.
Whitty and Boris were asked about her claims during a Downing Street press conference, with the chief medical officer describing such myths as “clearly ridiculous” and “designed just to scare”. Minaj, unrepentantly, recorded an audio message in a fake British accent.
On the surface, an online brouhaha between showbiz and science, two worlds that don’t usually collide, may seem highly amusing and trivial. But it’s dangerous stuff. Minaj is undoubtedly a talented musician with a large following on Twitter of 22.6million and influence across the globe.
Unfounded claims that a vaccine is saving lives and is the most powerful weapon against Covid are made by Minaj is not funny. This only reinforces the fears of those already anxious about the vaccine. She has admitted she is vaccine hesitant and wants to do more research – and that’s her prerogative. Why would you send messages that might stop people from getting it?
In the US, black Americans are twice as likely to die of Covid compared to their white counterparts and nearly three times more likely to need hospital treatment. In Washington DC, the US capital, black residents account for 76% of Covid deaths despite only making up 45% of the local population.
Only 29% of black residents are fully vaccinated according to reports. Last week it was reported that unvaccinated Detroit couple Troy and Charletta Green tragically died of Covid just one day apart, leaving their seven children orphaned.
Black people in the UK continue to have the lowest rates of vaccination, despite being more likely than other races to die from the disease. Taking the vaccine is a choice, and it’s right that it remains so.
However, people need to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. Experts can help them. It’s what I did and I’m relieved to be double jabbed.