NICKI MINAJ

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — A Los Angeles business manager whose clients had included Nicki Minaj and the Kardashians was killed, and her boyfriend was charged with murder, authorities said Wednesday. Police found Angela Kukawski, 55, dead in her car in Simi Valley northwest of Los Angeles on Dec. 23, a day after she was reported missing, police said in a statement. Her 49-year-old boyfriend, Jason Barker, was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder on Wednesday, authorities and public records said. Detectives believe Barker killed Kukawski inside their home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles, put her inside her car, drove it to Simi Valley, parked it and left her inside, authorities said. “We are saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our colleague, Angie Kukawski,” Todd Bozick of Boulevard Management said in a statement.

The sister of a man who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia is asking seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to help save her brother’s life.

The fiancee of slain Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi joined a chorus of voices calling on pop star Justin Bieber to cancel his concert in Saudi Arabia next month.

Harvey Mason jr. knew there would be an uphill climb after taking over as the Recording Academy’s CEO.

This week’s new entertainment releases include an Elton John album of duets and an HBO documentary about the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Front-line medical workers are growing weary of COVID-19 denial and misinformation in treating unvaccinated patients during the delta-driven surge.

Maya Angelou famously said, “when you know better, you do better.” There is nobody better at making sure you know […] The post Dez Bryant’s call out of Jemele Hill shows Black women cannot critique without contempt appeared first on TheGrio.

After a bombshell interview on The Real, Black Twitter is calling out Nicki Minaj for implying that her husband’s accuser […] The post Black Twitter calls out Nicki Minaj for implying husband’s accuser is white appeared first on TheGrio.

Warner Bros.Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, pleaded guilty earlier this month for failing to register as a sex offender after he moved to the state of California. Meanwhile Jennifer Hough, whom Petty was convicted of assaulting in 1995, is continuing to share her story. On Wednesday morning, Hough gave her first televised interview on The Real, where she and her lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, discussed her defamation and witness intimidation lawsuit against Petty and Minaj. Before introducing h

It definitely wasn’t the Pandemmys, or the Zoomemmys, or whatever you want to call last year’s virtual Emmy ceremony.

Nicki Minaj has been occupying space in the media all week, but it hasn’t been due to new music. The […] The post Nicki Minaj reveals personal info of reporters investigating her vaccination claims appeared first on TheGrio.

None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. CLAIM: President Joe Biden has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to withhold health care benefits from unvaccinated veterans. THE FACTS: Social media posts falsely suggested that a supposed order from Biden would keep veterans who receive assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs from accessing health care benefits unless they received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1.

The nation's top infectious disease expert said the rapper should be "thinking twice" before spreading misinformation.

“We offered a call with Nicki Minaj and one of our doctors to answer questions she had about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.

The White House said that they've offered such calls with others concerned about the vaccine, part of an aggressive public relations campaign to beat back rampant disinformation it.

The White House said that they've offered such calls with others concerned about the vaccine, part of an aggressive public relations campaign to beat back rampant disinformation.

The Health Minister of Trinidad and Tobago said they found "absolutely no reported side effect or adverse event of testicular swelling" stemming from the COVID vaccine.

Republicans aren't really scared of them, said the "Full Frontal" host.

Biden-Nicki Minaj FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2018, file photo, Nicki Minaj attends the Oscar de la Renta show during Fashion Week in New York. The White House is offering to connect Minaj with one of the Biden administration’s doctors to address her questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Minaj tweeted Wednesday that "the White House has invited me" and "yes, I'm going," but a White House official said the rapper was simply offered a call. Throughout the year, the White House has struggled to counteract resistance to getting a shot, particularly among younger and more Republican demographics. It has referenced a study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that studies extremism, that linked a dozen accounts to spreading the majority of vaccine disinformation on Facebook.

The White House is offering to connect Nicki Minaj with one of the Biden administration’s doctors to address her questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Minaj encouraged her fans to leave any vaccine questions in her comments so can can ask them "in real time with full transparency" during her visit.

The health minister of Trinidad and Tobago said Minaj's tweet late Monday to her more than 22 million followers sent the ministry on a wild goose chase.

The nation's top infectious disease expert said the rapper should be "thinking twice" before spreading misinformation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his usually staid chief medical officer weighed in, prompting reply from Minaj and social media sarcasm.

Minaj skipped this year's Met Gala, which enforced a vaccine mandate, saying she was avoiding public events, generally, because she has a new baby at home.

The most honest statement for anyone still resisting a vaccine is, “I don’t want to” and that’s it.

Elton John is releasing an album of collaborations with artists from several generations and genres, including Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder.

Rapper Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty are being sued for harassing and intimidating the victim into recanting her allegations, say reports.

Nicki Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, have been slapped with a lawsuit by the woman he allegedly attempted to […] The post Nicki Minaj, husband sued by victim of attempted rape appeared first on TheGrio.

Prosecutors say bodyguards for troubled rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine turned New York City into the Wild West last summer, piling into SUVs and chasing a man for 20 blocks with lights flashing after he attempted to record cellphone video of the recording star.

The first authentic Pepe digital art yielded about a million dollars at auction last month. But that's only the beginning.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby are the prom queen and king of the 2021 BET Awards. Megan Thee Stallion, who won three Grammys this year, is up for best female hip-hop artist, album of the year for “Good News” and video of the year for “WAP,” her No. DaBaby has four songs competing for best collaboration: “Rockstar” with Roddy Ricch; “For the Night” with Pop Smoke and Lil Baby; “Cry Baby” with Megan Thee Stallion; and “What’s Poppin” with Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez and Jack Harlow. Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby were two of the big stars at last year's BET Awards — the first awards show to air during the pandemic. Female performers competing with Megan Thee Stallion, last year’s best female hip-hop artist winner, include Cardi B, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Latto and Coi Leray.

Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby are the prom queen and king of the 2021 BET Awards.

Nicki Minaj blew up the internet Monday with a tease that something was coming Friday. It was a rerelease of "Beam Me Up Scotty" plus some new songs.

An appellate court has ruled for music producer Dr. Luke on an important issue in his defamation suit against pop star Kesha.

FILE - In this Monday, May 6, 2019, file photo, Nicki Minaj attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York. Minajs mother has filed a $150 million lawsuit against the man who is accused of killing the rapper's father in a hit-and-run crash in February 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)MINEOLA, N.Y. – Rapper Nicki Minaj’s mother, Carol Maraj, has filed a $150 million lawsuit against the man who is accused of killing Minaj’s father in a hit-and-run crash last month, an attorney for Maraj said. Ad“He was not only irresponsible and negligent, but more concerned about running away and hiding than seeking help,” Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys representing Carol Maraj, said in an Instagram post Friday. Nicki Minaj, who was born Onika Tanya Maraj, has not made any public statement on her father's death.

Dr. Luke appeared as Tyson Trax on the Grammy ballot for Doja Cat's Say So," which he produced and co-wrote. But not all of the academy members may have been aware they were voting for Dr. Luke when they completed their ballots this year. Ad“I didn’t know that Tyson Trax was Dr. Luke. AdTogether, Martin and Dr. Luke crafted hits for Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink and Kesha, who he signed in 2005. Eventually Dr. Luke stepped into the forefront, helming successes for Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, logging 17 No.

The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, FIle)MINEOLA, N.Y. – A 70-year-old man arrested Wednesday in the hit-and-run death of rapper Nicki Minaj’s father stopped briefly to ask the injured man if he was OK but didn't call for help, police said. Charles Polevich faces charges of leaving the scene of an incident and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death last week of 64-year-old Robert Maraj on New York's Long Island. In interviews, she said Robert Maraj suffered from drug addiction and was abusive toward her mother, once setting fire to their house with her inside. Robert Maraj called his daughter's claims “exaggerated.”

FILE - Nicki Minaj attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York, in this Monday, May 6, 2019, file photo. The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. Maraj was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)MINEOA, N.Y. – The 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police said. Minaj, 38, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in the New York City borough of Queens.

Karol G performs for the 21st Latin Grammy Awards, airing on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, at American Airlines Arena in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)NEW YORK – A year after Rosalía made history by becoming the first solo female performer in 13 years to win the top prize at the Latin Grammys, Natalia Lafourcade followed in her footsteps with a big win at the 2020 show. The Mexican singer won album of the year — a category dominated by male acts — on Thursday night with “Un Canto Por México, Vol. Lafourcade didn't attend the Latin Grammys, which aired live on Univision and featured a number of performances, most of them pre-taped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the Latin Grammys with a strong message about Latin music. Speaking in Spanish and English, he said Latin music “unites all of us and makes us human.”“This is our night,” he added.

This combination photo shows Natalia Lafourcade, left, and Rosalia. A year after Rosalia made history by becoming the first solo female performer in 13 years to win the top prize at the Latin Grammys, Natalia Lafourcade followed in her footsteps with a big win at the 2020 show, taking home the album of the year honor on Nov. 19, 2020, for "Un Canto Por Mxico, Vol.

Lafourcade won three awards, tying Rosalia and Carlos Vives for most wins. The Mexican singer won album of the year — a category dominated by male acts — on Thursday night with “Un Canto Por México, Vol. Lafourcade won three awards at the show, tying Rosalía and Carlos Vives for most wins. Lafourcade didn't attend the Latin Grammys, which aired live on Univision and featured a number of performances, most of them pre-taped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the Latin Grammys with a strong message about Latin music.

FILE - Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety's Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019. The South Korean boy band BTS HAS won a leading four awards including best song for Dynamite and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 while Lady Gaga took home the best artist prize. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

The South Korean boy band BTS HAS won a leading four awards including best song for Dynamite and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 while Lady Gaga took home the best artist prize. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)The South Korean pop group BTS won a leading four awards including best song for “Dynamite” and best group at the MTV Europe Music Awards Sunday night, while Lady Gaga took the best artist prize. Coldplay won best rock, Haley Williams got best alternative and Little Mix was named best pop. And the best Latin award went to Karol G, who also won best collaboration for “Tusa” featuring Nicki Minaj. David Guetta, who won best electronic, also performed at the show from a stage in Budapest.

NEW YORK – A man convicted in the kidnapping of rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was sentenced to 24 years in prison Wednesday by a judge who cited his leadership role in a gang active nationwide. During a two-hour proceeding, the judge repeatedly cited the July 2018 kidnapping of Tekashi 6ix9ine and Ellison’s slashing of another man’s face that left him permanently disfigured. After his own arrest, Tekashi 6ix9ine — whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez — pleaded guilty and became a cooperator. He described the kidnapping, saying Ellison and another man forced him into a stolen car at gunpoint. In 2018, Tekashi 6ix9ine had a multiplatinum hit song, “Fefe,” with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at No.

1 hit on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, Drake has bested a record previously held by icons Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Drake's “Laugh Now Cry Later," featuring rapper Lil Durk, reached the No. Wonder and Franklin, who died in 2018, each have had 20 songs top the chart. 1 hits on the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, 12 include him in the leading role, including “God’s Plan,” “In My Feelings,” “Hotline Bling,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “Best I Ever Had,” his first major hit released in 2009. Earlier this year, 34-year-old Drake made Billboard chart history when he set a new record for most songs on the Hot 100 chart — Billboard's main songs chart that includes all music genres.

J Balvin performs during the Coca-Cola Flow Reggaeton festival in Mexico City on Nov. 23, 2019, from left, Ozuna performs at the Latin American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2019 and Bad Bunny performs a medley at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 25, 2019. Balvin scored a whopping 13 nominations at the 2020 Latin Grammys, including two nominations for album of the year and two for record of the year. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively.

Balvin scored a whopping 13 nominations at the 2020 Latin Grammys, including two nominations for album of the year and two for record of the year. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – At last year’s Latin Grammy Awards, popular reggaeton and Latin trap musicians such as J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Ozuna were dismissed in the show’s top categories. The Latin Academy announced Tuesday that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively. Ozuna and Bad Bunny will also compete with themselves in several categories.

Fashion designer Gareth Pugh poses for a photograph in front of his creations, exhibited ahead of his London Fashion Week show in London, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. This is no typical year, though, and London Fashion Week is decidedly less glamorous. “This is not a full-blown fashion week - it’s not mass audiences. It’s very much happening in private and the scales have tipped in favor of digital,” said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, which organizes London Fashion Week. Even before the virus outbreak, brands had been experimenting with technology to get to broader audiences by streaming shows online.

NEW YORK – Nicki Minaj has a new release coming soon: her first child. The rapper took to Instagram on Monday to announce she is pregnant, posting photos of herself with a baby bump. Musically, Minaj has also had a winning year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice. Her remix of Doja Cat's “Say So" helped Minaj achieve her first-ever No. 1 on the Hot 100, despite releasing multiple hits throughout her career.

FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. She did not say who shot her or why, and Los Angeles police had no immediate comment. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said Wednesday that she was shot multiple times on Sunday, but expects to fully recover. Lee said the Instagram post has been pointed out to the detectives in the case, who are looking into it.

This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. Authorities say three men and two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the home-invasion death of the rising rapper. (Fox11 News KTTV-TV via AP)

This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home, center, where Pop Smoke, 20, was shot and killed early Feb. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. The three men were identified as Jaquan Murphy, 21, Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre D. Rodgers, 18, all of Los Angeles. Pop Smoke and his entourage staying at the home are not believed to be associated with the gang, Tippet said. “It’s our belief that (the home-invasion robbery) was based on some of the social media" posts, Tippet said. Earlier this year, Pop Smoke released the mixtape “Meet the Woo 2,” which debuted at No.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A high school basketball coach is in some hot water over letting a celebrity twerker use the Miami Beach Senior High gym to make a video during her Feb. 22 “Twerk Tour” stop. The 13-minute video was uploaded to YouTube on Feb. 28 and has more than 151,000 views. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools has a problem with the video being filmed at the school, the Miami Herald reported. The school's basketball coach, Jacob Shaw, allowed Nass and her crew to use the gym for an unauthorized event, district spokeswoman Daisy Gonzalez-Diego told the Herald. Officials said the school’s principal, Maria Rodriguez, reported the incident to the district’s regional office the Monday after the video was filmed.

In this undated photo provided by Republic Records is Pop Smoke. "We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke," Republic Records said in a statement. An autopsy was planned after Pop Smoke was declared dead at a hospital. Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent, Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with Pop Smoke, were among those paying tribute on social media. “Young tycoon gone2soon had a blast wit ya,” Snoop Dogg posted, along with a video of himself and Pop Smoke on stage together.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed on Wednesday in a rented multi-million-dollar home in Los Angeles Hollywood Hills, and police said they were searching for several suspects, at least one whom was armed and wearing a mask during the incident. The Los Angeles Police Department and county coroners office declined to identify the 20-year-old Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, as the victim in the fatal shooting, but his record label confirmed his passing. Witnesses described between two and six suspects, at least one of whom wore a mask, he said. A remix featured rapper Nicki Minaj, who posted a picture of Pop Smoke on her Instagram account after news of the murder became public. Rest In Peace, Pop, Minaj said in the post.

Kesha made a false claim that Dr. Luke raped Katy Perry when there's no evidence whatsoever that he did, a judge ruled this week while sending a long-running clash between Kesha and her former mentor toward trial. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK, N.Y. – Pop singer Kesha made a false claim that Dr. Luke raped Katy Perry when there's “no evidence whatsoever” that he did, a judge ruled this week while sending a long-running clash between Kesha and her former mentor toward trial. “There is no evidence whatsoever that Gottwald raped Katy Perry,” Manhattan judge Jennifer Schecter wrote in Thursday's decision, calling Kesha's remark a false statement that meets legal standards for being defamatory. The finding is helpful to Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke has produced some of the biggest pop hits of the 2000s, working with stars including Perry, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson and Nicki Minaj.

MINEOLA, N.Y. – The brother of rapper Nicki Minaj was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at his Long Island home. A judge convicted Jelani Maraj of predatory sexual assault and child endangerment in November 2017. The victim testified during the trial that Maraj repeatedly raped her in 2015 while her mother was at work. The girl’s younger brother also testified at the trial that he witnessed one assault. One of his attorneys said he suffered from health issues including hypertension, gout and anemia and requested the minimum sentence of 10 years to life.

This Nov. 20, 2019 photo shows Megan Thee Stallion posing for a portrait in New York. The rapper was named one of the breakthrough artists of the year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP)

This Nov. 20, 2019 photo shows Megan Thee Stallion posing for a portrait in New York. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP)NEW YORK, NY – Megan Thee Stallion's schedule has become so frenetic that she can spend days, or even longer, away from home, in a different city every night. “Every day, they tell me, ‘Megan you’re doing a good job,’” the 24-year-old said, referring to her team. Some may consider her omission from the recent slate of Grammy nominees another disappointment, but Megan brushes it off. ``I don't think you should have it in your mind when you’re in a studio like, ‘I'm going to write these bars because I'm going to win these Grammys.’ No!

(CNN) - Nicki Minaj has some imagination. After saying she was collaborating on a song and a video with Adele, it turns out she made the whole thing up. The "Monster" rapper told Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday that she was working with Adele on a song, adding that she was super excited about the two hooking up. "Adele made me swear to secrecy that I'm not allowed to tell anyone that I'm working with her," Minaj said. "Omg guys," Minaj tweeted Wednesday with laughing emojis, "I thought everyone could clearly see I was being sarcastic."

(CNN) - Nicki Minaj has revealed she and Adele have teamed up on a song. "Yes and yes, yes and yes, wooo hoo!" Minaj told "Entertainment Tonight" when asked if she and Adele were working on anything or considering collaborating in the near future. "But Adele made me swear to secrecy that I'm not allowed to tell anyone that I'm working with her. Minaj didn't share any more information about the song or video, but the collaboration could be part of Adele's upcoming album.

In July, BTS attracted criticism after they announced an Oct. 11 show in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, same-sex sexual activity is illegal, public spaces are mostly segregated by gender and women's rights remain restricted. Why is Saudi Arabia inviting international pop stars? This year, Mariah Carey held her own concert in Saudi Arabia, despite backlash from women's rights activists. Last week, Saudi Arabia announced a new scheme that allows 49 different countries to get a visa on arrival.

Nicki Minaj tweets she's retiring to have a family, big movies get more inclusive, and Matt Damon eyes the 2021 Oscars.

Nicki Minaj performs onstage at the 2018 BET Awards. She was nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, but lost to Cardi B.BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Forget "Pink Friday." It looks to be a blue Thursday for Nicki Minaj fans. The rapper and singer has Tweeted that she's chosen to retire and "have my family." Minaj recently told listeners of her "Queen Radio" show that she and boyfriend Kenneth Perry had applied for a marriage license and would be wed in "about 80 days."

Getty Images(CNN) - Planned Parenthood's "Bans Off My Body" campaign has gathered nearly 140 musicians to join its campaign to battle restrictions on legal abortion. Planned Parenthood plans to raise awareness about restrictive anti-abortion measures that have passed in several states over the last year. The organization hopes to gather a whopping 500,000 signatures for its online petition to raise awareness about abortion rights. "Abortion access and reproductive health and rights are under attack like never before, and we need everyone to fight back," Planned Parenthood's president, Alexis McGill, said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood is grateful to these artists for using their incredible platforms to declare that our bodies are our own -- if they are not, we can never be truly free or equal."

Getty ImagesRIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Women in Saudi Arabia will finally be allowed to hold passports and travel abroad without the consent of a male guardian, a policy shift that marks a significant loosening of the Kingdom's notorious restrictions on women. The new amendment was approved on Thursday by the Saudi Cabinet, and will allow all Saudi women to apply for passports "like all citizens" and for women aged 21 and above to travel independently, according to a statement from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Information. Some of these reforms are part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to modernize Saudi Arabia and relax the conservative social code. Saudi Arabia follows a strict form of Wahhabi Islam that bans the mixing of sexes at public events, with gendered rules enforced by religious police. The fight for Saudi women's rights has even penetrated the entertainment industry -- in July, rapper Nicki Minaj backed out of a concert in Saudi Arabia after pressure from fans and human rights organizations.

(CNN) - The Human Rights Foundation is applauding Nicki Minaj's decision to back out of a concert in Saudi Arabia. Minaj was scheduled to headline the Jeddah World Fest, a music and performance festival, on July 18. Saudi Arabia is a conservative kingdom where people in some public places are segregated by gender and same-sex relationships are criminalized. "Saudi Arabia I see some of your comments & I want to respond directly to my fans," the photo reads, "Voice your opinions here." "After careful reflection I have decided to no longer move forward with my scheduled concert at Jeddah World Fest," she said.

Nicki Minaj is pulling out of a concert in Saudi Arabia because she said she wants to show support for women's rights, gay rights and freedom of expression. The Human Rights Foundation issued a statement last week calling for Minaj and other performers to pull out of the show. Nicki Minaj attends the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York City. "The July 18 festival in Saudi Arabia still shows Liam Payne as a performer," Halvorssen said. The 33-year-old crown prince, backed by his father King Salman, presides over a nation where he alone defines the pace and scope of change.

Nicki Minaj rejected by high school to speak Nicki Minaj offered to speak at her high school, but was turned down by the principal. The hosts of "The Talk" discuss if she is a good role model for kids with the new co-anchor of “The Insider,” Louis Aguirre.