US rapper Nicki Minaj has threatened legal action against a Nigerian influencer, Dr Penking, over alleged cyberbullying and copyright infringement following a viral exchange on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy erupted on Saturday after Dr Penking shared an old video of the rapper on his X handle with the caption that she had “gotten old and should retire.”
Reacting in a now-deleted post, Minaj questioned whether the influencer had obtained permission to share the clip and accused him of using the video to harass her online.
“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,” the rapper wrote.
In response, Dr Penking defended his post, insisting that his comment was an expression of personal opinion protected under freedom of speech.
“Tell Nicki Minaj that myself and my team are ready and eagerly anticipating her papers,” he wrote.
“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. 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.
“I will not be bullied or intimidated by Nicki Minaj or any other celebrity,” he added.
The exchange has since sparked widespread debate online, with social media users divided over whether the influencer’s remarks constituted cyberbullying or fell within the bounds of free speech.
