The Trinidad and Tobago health minister shut down Nicki Minaj’s claims about her cousin’s friend in the country allegedly getting “swollen” testicles due to the COVID-19 vaccine.
During a press briefing Wednesday, Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh shared that the government had wasted “so much time” researching if, in fact, someone in the country had got swollen male reproductive parts from the vaccine. The superstar rapper tweeted about the allegations Monday. (RELATED: Nicki Minaj Allows Sex Offender Boyfriend To Star In Music Video)
WATCH:
#BREAKING – Trinidad & Tobago Health Minister Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh responds to swollen testicle claim made by Trinidad-born entertainer @NICKIMINAJ; says there is no such reported case in Trinidad & Tobago (TTT) pic.twitter.com/NNsc9EUTKP
— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) September 15, 2021
“One of the reasons that we could not respond in real-time to Mrs. Minaj is that we had to check and make sure that what she was claiming was either true or false,” Deyalsingh shared in a video posted on Twitter. (RELATED: Nicki Minaj Calls MSNBC’s Joy Reid A ‘Lying C**n,’ Tells Meghan McCain To ‘Eat Sh*t’ In Vaccine Rant)
“Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running done this false claim,” he added. “As far as we know at this point in time, there has been no such reported of either side effect or adverse event.”
He then called out the singer for “wasting their time” trying to track down the claim “because we take all these claims seriously whether it’s on social media or mainstream media.”
Deyalsingh reiterated there was “absolutely no reported such side effect or adverse event of testicles swollen in Trinidad or anywhere else.”
“None that we know of anywhere else in the world,” he concluded.
The 38-year-old Trinidadian-born rapper tweeted earlier this week she would not be attending the annual Met Gala in New York City due to its vaccine requirement. She also noted that she has not received the vaccine and explained why.
They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. if I get vaccinated it won’t for the Met. It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research. I’m working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
“My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine because his friend got it & became impotent,” the superstar rapper tweeted. “His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with your decision, not bullied.”
My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
I know babe. A lot of countries won’t let ppl work w/o the vaccine. I’d def recommend they get the vaccine. They have to feed their families. I’m sure I’ll b vaccinated as well cuz I have to go on tour, etc. https://t.co/7SK5Df0yBf
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
“I know babe,” she added in response to one person’s concerns about the vaccine. “A lot of countries won’t let people work w/o the vaccine. I’d def recommend they get the vaccine. They have to feed their families. I’m sure I’ll be vaccinated as well because I have to go on tour, etc.”
The “I’m Legit” hitmaker not long after faced a backlash for her comments and tweeted to one person asking if they were mad because the “internet” couldn’t scare her away.