Netizens Criticize Gag City Instagram Post Featuring Nicki Minaj’s Floating Head as Storm Eye During Hurricane Milton

On October 4, the Instagram account for Gag City shared an image depicting rapper Nicki Minaj’s head aligning with the eye of a storm. The accompanying caption read:

“Hurricane @nickiminaj is making her debut in Jacksonville, Florida, bringing her Category 5 record-breaking #PinkFriday2 #GagCity Reloaded World Tour to @vystarvetarena tonight, featuring @skillibeng, @bia, @tyga & @djboof.”

The post included a variety of emojis and a link directing followers to the Nicki Minaj tour website, whereas the image was attributed to @yacousinvinnie.

However, the image quickly attracted controversy, as many social media users criticized it as being inappropriate amid the ongoing challenges faced by Florida and other southeastern states recovering from consecutive hurricanes, such as the recent Hurricane Helene and the imminent Hurricane Milton.

For example, user @leo_maraschino replied to Gag City’s post, expressing:

Additional users chimed in on their disapproval on the platform X, voicing their concerns over the Gag City Instagram post related to Nicki Minaj.

“This is incredibly disrespectful to those who died or are missing from Hurricane Helene… I understand it’s artistic, but the timing is off,” one user remarked.

“It’s not funny for Floridians who have lost everything!!!!” another commented.

“I get the creative angle, but given that 200 people have just lost their lives to a hurricane, there must be a more sensitive promotional approach,” added yet another user.

The backlash continued:

“The timing is appalling, Pedro… People have just lost their homes and loved ones due to the hurricane. This is beyond insensitivity,” a user exclaimed.

“What is this??? This seems utterly disgusting and disrespectful to those who recently suffered from Hurricane Helene…” wrote another.

Despite the criticism, many of Nicki Minaj’s loyal supporters praised the design:

“I love this promo!” one fan wrote.

“Ouuuu this is adorable!” another added.

For those who weren’t aware, Nicki Minaj announced her Pink Friday 2 World Tour in December 2023. She revealed plans to visit 37 cities globally, with her U.S. leg commencing in March 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Upcoming performances are also set for Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami on October 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

All about Gag City, the Nicki Minaj fanbase

Gag City is an AI-generated fan concept modeled after Nicki Minaj’s Pink Kingdom, launched in September 2023. This initiative emerged alongside the release of the rapper’s fifth studio album cover for Pink Friday 2, showcasing Minaj seated in a white gown and gold crown on an open-air train amidst a dreamy sky.

The backdrop illustrated an “aerial view of a cityscape” adorned with “fluffy, pink clouds.”

Following the viral success of the unique album cover, Nicki’s devoted fans, known as Barbz, began to refer to the depicted city as “Gag City,” a term reflecting the fierce and captivating essence signaled by the word “gag.”

This catchy phrase quickly gained traction as Barbz embraced it as the AI-designed metropolis of Nicki Minaj, leading to the emergence of a vibrant virtual community consisting of themed art, graphics, and beyond. Generated illustrations depicting businesses, events, and a comprehensive realm dedicated to the Queen of rap soon flooded the internet, solidifying Gag City’s presence in pop culture.

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