American rap superstar Nicki Minaj has threatened legal action against Nigerian social media influencer Dr Penking following a heated exchange on the social media platform X.
The controversy erupted after Dr Penking shared an old video clip of the rapper on Saturday and accompanied it with a caption suggesting that the music star should consider retiring from the entertainment industry.
In the now-viral post, the influencer wrote that Minaj had grown older and should step away from music.
“Nicki Minaj should understand that she has gotten old and retire,” he stated in the post.
The comment quickly attracted widespread reactions online and eventually caught the attention of the award-winning rapper herself.
Nicki Minaj reacts to viral post
After seeing the message, Minaj responded directly on the platform, questioning whether the influencer had permission to repost a video she recorded years ago.
The rapper also criticized the manner in which the clip was used, suggesting that it was shared to mock or insult her.
In her response, Minaj warned that the influencer had now been added to an ongoing legal case she is pursuing.
“Do you have permission to use this video that I filmed years ago to harass me on this or any platform? You’ve just been added to the suit,” she wrote.
Her statement sparked further debate among social media users, with many weighing in on issues related to copyright, online criticism and freedom of expression.
Dr Penking fires back
Rather than backing down, Dr Penking responded with a series of posts defending his position and insisting that he had the right to express his personal opinion.
He maintained that his comments were not intended as harassment and argued that freedom of speech allows individuals to publicly share their views.
“Tell Nicki Minaj that myself and my team are ready and eagerly anticipating her papers,” he wrote.
The influencer further explained that his statement about the rapper’s age was based on publicly available information.
“Freedom of speech and expression is supreme in all constitutions in the world and I have the right to express my opinion at all times,” he added.
Addressing the controversy directly, he continued:
“Is she old? Yes she is 43. There is nothing harassing about this. It is publicly accessible information on Wikipedia.
“Should she retire? I think she should. That’s my personal opinion and I stand by it. You can agree or disagree.”
He concluded by stating that he would not be intimidated by any public figure.
“I will not be bullied or intimidated by Nicki Minaj or any other ‘celebrity,’” he wrote.
Social media reactions
The exchange has since generated widespread discussion across social media platforms, with users debating whether the influencer’s comments amount to harassment or fall within the boundaries of free speech.
Others also raised questions about the use of old video content online and whether sharing such material without permission could constitute a copyright violation.
As of the time of reporting, it remains unclear whether formal legal documents have been filed or if the dispute will escalate into a full court case.
