Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj)

Public controversy over reported COVID vaccine side-effect tweet

Coverage of Nicki Minaj's September 2021 tweet alleging vaccine side effects in Trinidad. Trinidad's health minister called the claim false; U.S. and U.K. health officials also publicly rejected it.

1. Reported tweet alleging vaccine impotence side effect 2021-09-13 - Reuters and The Guardian reported that on Sept. 13, 2021 Minaj tweeted that her cousin in Trinidad would not get a COVID vaccine because a friend allegedly became impotent with swollen testicles after vaccination. Nicki Minaj's COVID-19 vaccine swollen testicles claim is false, says Trinidad health minister
2. Fauci and Whitty: no evidence for the claim 2021-09-14 - CBS News and CNBC reported Anthony Fauci said there was a resounding no and no evidence that U.S.-authorised COVID vaccines affect fertility. England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty called the claim untrue. Fauci says there is no evidence to support Nicki Minaj's suggestion that the COVID vaccine causes impotency
3. Trinidad health minister: claim is false and wasted time 2021-09-15 - Reuters and the BBC reported Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said there was no reported testicular swelling after COVID vaccination in Trinidad or anywhere he knew of, and that chasing the claim had wasted officials' time. Nicki Minaj's COVID-19 vaccine swollen testicles claim is false, says Trinidad health minister
4. White House: offered a doctor phone call, not an in-person visit 2021-09-16 - Reuters and the Associated Press reported the White House said it had offered Minaj a phone call with a doctor to answer vaccine questions, clarifying that the outreach was not an in-person White House visit as she had described. White House offers to talk to Minaj about vaccines