Nicki Minaj is no stranger to making a statement at the Met Gala, having attended her eighth fashion celebration in New York yesterday (5 May). Still, her latest interaction with press at the event has raised eyebrows.
The first Monday in May is annually reserved for the Met Gala, a high-profile fundraising gala inviting everyone from Hollywood stars to athletes and leading philanthropists to the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan.
The Fifth Avenue celebration of fashion, formally called the Costume Institute Benefit, is organized by Vogue and expects high-profile guests to curate their outfits to the designated theme.
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The Met Gala 2025 was co-chaired by Sing Sing’s Colman Domingo, F1 icon Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky and Louis Vuitton menswear head Pharrell Williams, with celebrities like Rihanna, Zendaya and Megan Thee Stallion also appearing on the New York steps.
Another attendee was 42-year-old Nicki Minaj - real name Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty - who attended the event on May 5 in a chic, custom Thom Browne pinstriped suit dress.
The outfit, inspired by this year’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style theme, featured a wide neckline and flattering mermaid skirt. It was paired with an eye-catching gold headpiece and floral arrangement.
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The eight-time attendee is known for her bold fashion choices, but this year, it is Minaj’s subtle shade of the event that has caught fans’ attention.
In a video shared by Page Six, Minaj can be seen posing for pictures and being heckled by the paparazzi.At one point, someone from the crowd asks the mother-of-one: “What are you excited about at this one?”
After taking a second to collect her thoughts, Minaj replies: “Who says I was excited?”
The brutal five-word reply had photographers chuckling as she moved away from their camera lenses.
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The clip, which has been shared across social media, has been praised by fans, with one writing: “LMAOOOOO she better than me going to a room full of my ops.”
A second typed: “This woman kills me everytime.”
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“Nicki said ain't nuthin goin on right now I'm still on hiatus I'm jus here to serve looks and that's it chile,” replied someone else.
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Another commented: “This is a Nicki response,” followed by a heart and laughing face emoji.
The 12-time Grammy-nominated artist, whose latest album, Pink Friday 2, was released in December 2023, later spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the inspiration behind her Met Gala 2025 outfit.
She said: “First of all, Thom Browne is known for his craftsmanship and to me… it represents a proud period for African-Americans. That’s what I got out of [the theme] when I saw the photos.
“It reminded me of putting on your Sunday best and being iconic in your own world.”
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This Spring, The Costume Institute is spotlighting the brand new exhibition ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, which has been curated by Andrew Bolton.
The collection, inspired by guest curator Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, presents a ‘cultural and historical examination of Black style from the 18th century to the present through an exploration of the concept of dandyism’.
Alongside this year’s other A-list co-chairs, the likes of Olympian Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens are serving on the host committee.
Regina King, Spike Lee, WNBA star Angel Reese and music stars Doechii and Usher are also listed as being in charge.
Topics: Celebrity, Nicki Minaj, Met Gala, New York
Ella Scott