A fierce social media feud erupted between US rapper Nicki Minaj and R&B star SZA on Tuesday night, igniting fervent reactions from fans and the music community. The conflict began after Nicki Minaj publicly accused Top Dawg Entertainment president Punch, SZA’s manager, of bullying and lying about her on X (formerly Twitter). SZA appeared to respond indirectly with a cryptic tweet about “Mercury retrograde” warning people not to fall for bait, which Nicki interpreted as a subtle jab.
Nicki responded by launching sharp insults at SZA, mocking her appearance and voice with unflattering comparisons such as sounding like “a f**king dead frog” and telling her to “go draw your freckles back on.” Despite this, SZA remained composed, stating she was unbothered by Nicki’s remarks and clarifying that her earlier post wasn’t targeted at anyone specifically.
Minaj escalated the dispute by boasting about her career achievements, challenging SZA’s success and relevance. She claimed that if every one of SZA’s songs disappeared tomorrow, the music industry “wouldn’t even miss” her. Nicki highlighted her own international headlining tours, noting she has performed in stadiums with crowds as large as 80,000, venues she said SZA has never headlined.
She also questioned the legitimacy of SZA’s chart success, criticizing the "deluxe album" strategy SZA used to boost her recent SOS album sales, insinuating it was a tactic to break records rather than a sign of genuine popularity. “Boo, I’m an icon. You’re not,” Minaj declared emphatically.
SZA countered without naming Nicki directly, emphasizing her own resilience and success amid online bullying, highlighting her packed stadium tours and healthy family life as evidence of her stability and accomplishment. “Get some f**king perspective…” she concluded in a tweet that resonated with many of her supporters.
The public spat has divided fans and observers, with Nicki’s “Barbz” fanbase staunchly supporting her, while SZA’s followers admire her measured response and ongoing career growth. The clash underscores tensions within the music industry around fame, competition, and artistic legitimacy.
As the online war of words continues, both artists remain at the height of their careers, proving that even the biggest stars face intense scrutiny and rivalries in the digital age.