Nicki Minaj Responds to Accusations of Nazi Imagery in "Only" Lyric Video

Update: The video’s director, Jeffrey Osborne, gave a statement to Myspace’s Spencer Stein in which he admitted that some of the video’s elements are “representative of Nazism”. Read it at the bottom of the post. 

Yesterday, Nicki Minaj faced a harsh rebuke for the animated lyric video for her Drake/Lil Wayne/Chris Brown collab “Only”, which was directed by Jeffrey Osborne. An increasing number of fans, and later, the Anti-Defamation League, claimed that the certain aspects of the clip’s aesthetic, such as the color scheme and styling of the Young Money logo on banners and armbands, evoked the aesthetics of Nazi Germany: an artistic decision further soured by the fact that the video happened to be released on the 76th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” considered by many to be the beginning of the Holocaust.

This morning, Minaj addressed the controversy surrounding her latest lyric video on Twitter, insisting that its inspiration came from cartoons and comic books, rather than fascist propaganda. She then apologized to those who were offended, took full responsibility for the video, and set the record straight: “I’d never condone Nazism in my art,” she Tweeted. 

Here’s what Minaj had to say about the controversy:

The artist who made the lyric video for “Only” was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called “Metalocalypse” & Sin City.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

I didn’t come up w/the concept, but I’m very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I’d never condone Nazism in my art.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

Here’s the video in question:

Osborne’s statement:

Before I start, be clear that these are my personal views and not the views of Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, or Young Money.

First, I’m not apologizing for my work, nor will I dodge the immediate question. The flags, armbands, and gas mask (and perhaps my use of symmetry?) are all representative of Nazism.

But a majority of the recognizable models/symbols are American: MQ9 Reaper Drone, F22 Raptor, Sidewinder missile, security cameras, M60, SWAT uniform, General’s uniform, the Supreme court, and the Lincoln Memorial. What’s also American is the 1^st Amendment, which I’ve unexpectedly succeeded in showing how we willfully squeeze ourselves out of that right every day.

Despite the fact heavy religious and economic themes were glossed over, there’s also Russian T-90 tanks, Belgian FN FAL, German mp5 (not manufactured until 1966), an Italian Ferrari, and a Vatican Pope.

As far as an explanation, I think its actually important to remind younger generations of atrocities that occurred in the past as a way to prevent them from happening in the future.  And the most effective way of connecting with people today is through social media and pop culture. So if my work is misinterpreted because it’s not a sappy tearjerker, sorry I’m not sorry. What else is trending?

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