[UPDATE 7/23/15 – 1:00PM EDT]: Nicki Minaj has accepted Taylor Swift's apology. Our long national nightmare is over.
That means so much Taylor, thank you. @taylorswift13 ??????
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2015
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I've always loved her. Everyone makes mistakes. She gained so much more respect from me. Let's move on. https://t.co/mx9pfIdnzT
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2015
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[UPDATE 7/23/15 – 11:37AM EDT]: Taylor Swift just took to Twitter to apologize for jumping to conclusions about Nicki Minaj's tweets and completely missed the point of what Minaj was saying:
I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I'm sorry, Nicki. @NICKIMINAJ
– Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2015
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[ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW]:
Today MTV announced their nominees for the 2015 Video Music Awards. Not among the contenders for Video of the Year? Nicki Minaj”s “Anaconda.” This despite shattering the VEVO record for most views in 24 hours – 19.6 million if you”re keeping track – and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to voice her disappointment and call out the undercurrent of racial and body image double-standards that exist in the music industry.
If I was a different “kind” of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well. ????????????
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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Ellen did her own anaconda video and did the #choreo lol. Remember her doing that kick ????. Even mtv did a post on the choreo @MTV remember?
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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U couldn't go on social media w/o seeing ppl doing the cover art, choreo, outfits for Halloween…an impact like that & no VOTY nomination?
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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When the “other” girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year ????????????????????????????????????????????????????
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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Nicki Minaj was not throwing shade at her fellow artists. She was throwing shade at the system. She”s not speaking in a vacuum. There have been many articles popping up about the intersection of race and feminism and the music industry.
Then along comes Taylor Swift to make it all about her.
@NICKIMINAJ I've done nothing but love & support you. It's unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot..
– Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
This is how to be a bad ally. When an oppressed party tells you the system is rigged against them, you don”t respond with the equivalent of #AllGirlsMatter and “WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME?” melodrama.
Even Minaj was confused by Swift”s response.
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn't say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
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But her fans were quick to point out the error of Swift”s ways, with Minaj RT”ing in solidarity:
nicki was making valid points about the history of racism in the music industry, taylor should be standing by her not making it about her
– becca (@margaerytyreII) July 21, 2015
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.@taylorswift13 stop using “support all girls” as an excuse to not be critical of racist media that benefits and glorifies you
– berenice (@itsbereniced) July 21, 2015
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I'm baffled as to WHY @taylorswift13 felt the need to come at @NickiMinaj for speaking on behalf of unsung black female entertainers..
– Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) July 21, 2015
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But if Taylor Swift wants to be dragged by Nicki Minaj, dragged she will be.
I'm so glad u guys get to see how this stuff works. Taylor took her music off spotify and was applauded. We launched Tidal & were dragged.
– NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015