Joe Budden says he’s officially done with Nicki Minaj after her onstage appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest alongside Erika Kirk, the wife of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
On a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden reacted to clips from the event and made it clear that Minaj’s involvement was a dealbreaker for him. He said he received several calls about the appearance before ultimately deciding he was finished engaging with or standing up for the superstar rapper.
“I’m out. I’m done. That was it,” Budden said, adding that her decision was “the last candle on the cake” for him. He stressed that his reaction wasn’t impulsive, pointing out that Minaj had plenty of time to think through how her appearance would be received.
Budden went on to slam the politics and messaging tied to Turning Point USA, saying the organization clashes with the values he feels Minaj’s music, fanbase, and public persona have long represented.
“I don’t even know how much of this conversation I could have, but they’re so anti-transgender, which is confusing to me because I’ve been to the Nicki concert,” Budden said. “I’m so confused by so much of what was said on that stage. Extremely disappointed.”
“Sometimes how y’all move out there does affect how I view you,” Budden continued, adding that he’d be “a fool” to believe Minaj didn’t expect backlash. He also described her appearance as “anti-Black,” saying the whole situation felt messy and disappointing.
Budden wrapped up by making his stance crystal clear, stating that he no longer wants to hear from Minaj or her fans and calling the moment his final straw.
Minaj, who has been openly leaning into MAGA circles in recent weeks, has not publicly addressed Budden’s remarks.
