Here’s a picture of Nicki Minaj’s new wax statue at Madame Tussauds (the one at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas), which was fashioned after Nicki’s own NSFW “Anaconda” video. Nicki is so proud of that video, and she was thrilled to see photos of the final statue. She Instagrammed a photo saying, “I love it and I can’t wait to see it.” Nicki’s video was by her own design, and she okayed the theme, costuming, poses, and suggestive choreography. So it makes sense that she adores this statue.
One person who does not approve of Madame Tussauds’s take on Nicki is Azealia Banks. This isn’t surprising because Banks doesn’t like anything. She disses Kanye and Lorde and hates fat people and America. She’ll feud with any and all artists on Twitter, and now she’s come for the wax statue. Azalea tweeted all about the “underhanded shade” in a statue where Nicki is down on all fours:
Wow, they finally give nicki minaj a wax figure and it's a statue of her bent over on all fours…… White people yo….
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 12, 2015
As much as that woman has accomplished, they had to put her on all fours… Why not standing up with a mic in her hand ???
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 12, 2015
I would complain and ask for a do-over. That's such underhanded shade
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 12, 2015
Martha Stewart's most iconic moment was when she went to jail but they didn't put her wax figure in a jail uniform… Come on y'all…
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 12, 2015
All ppl are gonna do is go up to that statue and take pictures shoving their crotch in her face and putting their crotch on her butt
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 12, 2015
On the surface, Banks has a point. The statue has already inspired a variety of NSFW selfies from both women and men. But I doubt the statue was meant to be demeaning, as it was based upon a video beloved by Nicki herself. She really does pose like that, you know? Nicki loves the statue, which is all that matters.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
She’s absolutely right. But the problem is, even Nicki doesn’t understand how it’s wrong.
Exactly Nicki gets nothing, you can’t have a valid disagreement with hr ,she always turns it into race issues.
She really is right and has a point.
Sometimes people most at harm to certain thinking play their part in perpetuating it. Like the frustration feminists feel about how women are objectified in pop culture- but those women are participating in and love it, even while knowing the men are taking advantage and that this kind of work doesn’t help “the sisterhood”. How is nicki any different?
And while it’s a great, valid point…
Azalea is the boy who cried wolf. Automatic eye rolls.
The problem is that when feminists tell women how they should think, feel, and behave, it’s just women getting told what to do all over again.
I agree. Portraying a woman like that perpetuates harmful imagery and ideas, and she does have a point that not only is the statue of a woman in a demeaning pose, it’s a woman of color in a demeaning pose. But yeah, Banks makes such a fuss over everything it’s hard to pay attention when she has a valid point.
Agree so hard. The thing is – is it wrong to make the most of an inherently exploitative system for personal gain? can anyone demand of another person that they not participate to take the moral high ground/support the sisterhood? I mean, I can see how nicki benefits from exploiting her own sexuality, AND how azalea is right at the same time, which is essentially what you were saying. I guess the proviso is, just because Nicki says, “I OK’d it, therefore it’s not exploitative” does not make it so.
@Redd: “The problem is that when feminists tell women how they should think, feel, and behave, it’s just women getting told what to do all over again.”
I do agree with you, and I think it promotes just one more unhelpful double standard when something is okay for one or two groups of people to choose to do something with their bodies, but ‘objectification’ and ‘exploitation’ for another group to choose to do it. It’s gotten to the point where whenever anyone who is not a cisgender white male or cisgender male chooses to openly portray themselves in a sexual way, it’s ‘a problem’ and we start using terms associated with abuse. I don’t think asking for every woman or woman of color to only portray herself in a modest/wholesome way is the feminist way to deal with UNWANTED SEXUALIZATION (the unwanted part is the key) and the pressure to be sexy any more than I think demanding that women only portray themselves in less modest/immodest/ sexualized ways is the feminist way to fight a culture of victim-blaming that teaches that female modesty= human value and respectability as a human being.
@Redd: No, because before it was always men telling women how to behave. This time the criticism comes from the women, and they have a valid argument.
And radical feminists certainly dont blame those women who have been victims of sexual harassment or abuse that this happened, because they were dressed or behaved in a certain way. Certainly not. It is because media culture let men think that because women dress and behave in a certain way, that these women automatically are willing to have sex with them. It is not the individual woman’s fault. People like Nicki e.g. who sells herself as a sex-kitten is a problem, why? What do little boys think if they see her like this? Do you really think they will respect her the same way if she was maybe standing upright?
Or just ask yourself: How may men do have you seen on all four trying to be sexy?
@Alexia: You’re partially wrong. Both men and women have promoted the message that women need to conform to some standard of modesty in order to be ‘safe’ and respectable as human beings. But the message started with men, men have had the most power, and it all revolves around the ideas of “The more sexual, the more lowering in value”, the myth that men suffer from an inherent inability to respect women as human beings once they see a woman in a sexual way, and the idea that it’s a woman’s responsibility to make sure nothing she wears or does turns on men because of it. So yes, even though women participate in the whole victim-blaming respectability politics problem, it did originate with men and is all about “What negative opinion will the menz form about me if I do/wear this” being prioritized over women’s beliefs, wishes, and moods about what they want to be wearing and doing with their bodies. Women doing that to other women is just as bad- or at least almost as bad- as men doing it. I can muster up a little bit of sympathy for the woman who internalizes that and inflicts it on other women though, whereas when men spout the ‘be a lady, not a tramp, it’s for your own safety and good’ rhetoric, I just see them as selfish, insecure, misogynistic douchebags.
@ Otaku Fairy: No I am not wrong, because since when were women in the position of power to promote anything? Did I miss something…? Of course they are always sexist women who claimed the same shit men did. But women were never in a position to make laws, policies, influence the discurs on the media, etc. This is slowly changing….
@Redd – 100% agree!
Women have fought too long and hard to simply turn around and let another group (feminists) dictate how they should think, act, or dress.
“Boy who cried wolf” is n understatement. She speaks so negatively about any and everything. At one point, she said something about terribly disgusting regarding interracial couples and about black women dating white men and equating it to the days of slavery. In the meantime, Azalea Banks has a white boyfriend. She makes sense on this Nicki Minaj issue, but I just can’t take her seriously. It like her sole purpose for doing and saying anything is purely attention driven.
I agree (shock) with Banks. Nicki has a variety of looks and iconic videos they could’ve chosen from. I didn’t understand this at all
On all fours…..in a jungle. Banks definitely has a point.
It’s her most famous work to date though. It’s what makes her iconic at this point. What other image or pose could they have chosen that would have made the figure so instantly recognizable as Nicky Minaj? From the perspective of the sculptor / museum, it’s actually a really good choice.
I’d be more offended that it looks absolutely nothing like Nicky Minaj
The face is too long, right?
She is right but wrong on who she blames. The wax people took something that Nicky loves, bitched about not getting best video for MTV, so she has the right points it just needs to be pointed towards Nicky
If l Nicki likes it, then I don’t see a problem. I wouldn’t like being portrayed on all fours, but I guess I’m an old fart.
Nicki isn’t the only celebrity that’s been displayed this way. I went to Madame Toussad’s in London about 10 years ago and Kylie Minogue was the same way – on all fours.
I do remember Kylie wasn’t happy about her statue at all, though.
I agree with Azealia tbh. Why didn’t they make a wax statue of Nicki in her Crazy Barbie getup, which is just as memorable as Anaconda. Also, at first glance, i thought the statue was of Kim K.
I agree with Tifzlan. The fact is, I think that The Azelia girl often has valid points but she keeps losing herself in hateful rants. Also it seems that she is always starting fights with everybody which, of course, doesn’t help her.
I actually kind of agree with her… I mean nicki likes it & that’s the important part but Azealia has a very valid point here
I would be more offended that her face in the statue looks nothing like her. She made the video…
They clearly purposely made the statue in that pose to promote pictures that are nsfw – just like they’re getting.
If Nicki approves and loves it- that’s her call.
Was just about to post the same: I would be offended by the wax face. Who’s that girl?!?
Azealia’s comment is justified but if Nicki approves that’s fine and seems almost underhanded for Azealia to take that away from her.
Looks more like Olivia Munn
Seriously. Nicki is far more beautiful that her wax likeness.
Also agree that if Nicki likes it then…
I honestly thought this was a tribute kinda thing in the first picture because I didn’t see Nicki. I mean this looks nothing like her. Nothing at all whatsoever. Really odd. As far as it being offensive….meh she did the video. Its not like they dreamed this up on their own. Azealia needs to take a breath and worry about herself. Quit trying to stir up drama if there is none.
Wow, I came ready to disagree, but she has all points. The thing is, like people said above, Nicki likes it, she’s proud of it. And why not portraying her with a mic in her hand? I have the feeling she wouldn’t love as much.
Oh Azealia. The only shade here is the one oozing from Banks. When the wax figure was made, all Nicki could talk about was how iconic the Anaconda song is to the extent of her getting a wax figure of it as a tribute and then took it back to how it got a wax figure but not a VMA nom. Azealia probably knows this hence the covert shade. This girl doesn’t really hate everything, she just loves attention. Recently, it was Erykah Badu she had a squabble with, now its a fucking wax figure. Oh and note the shade to Martha Stewart (which I love, by the way) .
And the crazy thing about the Badu beef was that it was over nothing. Someone asked Badu if she liked Banks music and all Badu said was that is wasn’t for her. Banks of course overacts because I guess everyone is suppose to fawn over her music.
You beat me to it.
Instead of trying to start drama on behalf of someone else that has nothing to do with her, maybe Banks should focus on her own career. She’s always on twitter starting beefs, stirring up mess, and mind other peoples business. It sad because she seem to be making a name for herself as a up-and-coming rapper and had the fashion industry taking notice then it all just fizzled. Now she’s more know for her twitter post than for her verses.
+1
I think she voices her opinions so often and finds fault with so much/so many people because she’s bitter that her career isn’t more successful. She’s determined to get attention, even if she has to act like a fool and pick Internet fights. It’s a shame.
Yup. She’s her own worst enemy.
If I was Nicki, I would complain that the face doesn’t look anything like me, yeesh.
Right! It looks like Naya Rivera to me.
Yes, I totally shocked that something normally as elegant as a wax figure at Madam Tussauds is actually in poor taste. Whatever could have gone wrong?
And thanks for crediting white people for this tacky display, but I’m afraid I had nothing to do with it.
Exact
I think the reason the show picked this figure was that this is in Vegas so they wanted something more “sexy”. I do not think that either she or the people meant this to be controversial (or that this has anything to do with race) but this kind of potrayal of women is not good because it subconciously affects how people see women. I do not think her videos should have stuff like this wither for the same reason. But if she is fine with it there is nothing to be done and it is not as if it is truly offensive.
I’m sure Nicki approved it every step of the way, so white people are off the hook. I just wish she didn’t see herself that way.
This chick loves blaming whitey as a whole for EVERY single thing.
Forget all fours–this looks nothing like Nicki! That’s more of a problem!
ps-who is Azealia Banks?????
I thought Madame Tussaud’s was supposed to at least pretend to be family-friendly…?
I’m with Azealia. I was really startled by it when I saw a pic a few days ago. I know Nicki has taken on such poses in the context of her performances so obviously she’s comfortable with such poses. But good grief, this is a permanent exhibition. It does look degrading. At least let the wax woman stand up on her own two wax feet.
This is the image Minaj chose for her album cover.
http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1391149/nicki-minaj.png
Please.
I’ve come to realize that none of these people say what they mean or mean what they say. NM has spoken about not wanting to be the ‘take ur clothes off to get attention’ kind of woman. Guess she didn’t mean what she said.
Does this girl understand what you have to go through to get a wax statue done? You are in charge from day one. Ideas of iconic poses/scenes are discussed before heavy photography, measurements, and video are taken. Nicki approved of the pose before sculpting began. She chose it. She posed for it. She approved the final draft. If anyone is throwing shade it’s Azalea, because she’s very coyly suggesting that Nicki will ONLY be known for this pose, no matter what else she does, as though this is her only talent. In other words, she’s projecting her own opinion here and using “white people” as her scapegoat.
+1 The only person she’s shading here is Nicki, who owned this whole monstrosity from beginning to end. But if this is what it takes to keep your name in the news Azealia, OK baby…
Azealia Banks Strikes again !! and Again She is Right!! She is also correct on a good Kanye Shrug If Nicki is with it but it in no way negates the validity of these receipts she came with
You know who I think did wrong? NICKI. If she wants to be above objectification, then she needs to get OFF all fours! Hello!?
Maybe this wax figure just brings it home, how stupidly low women in pop culture today, are putting themselves!!
why is it ok for her to do it in REAL LIFE, and then a dummy is suddenly offensive? It shoudl be the other way around.
But, thats just me and my old-fashioned crabby view. Dont blame “white people yo” as if its suddenly because of her skin. There are enough other dark skinned wax figures not in such a pose (even those around Nicki). This is Nickis idea! And she even thinks its great— so I mean, that speaks volumes.
How did I know someone was going to come in with this stupid argument. Guess what? Women, pop stars or not can be sexual. And it doesn’t matter if she’s on all fours or in a nun’s habit, she’d still be objectified because she’s a woman and sadly that is our society.
She can be in a burqa and actually be just as objectified and lambasted– I know that. But why is it bad to hold up a mirror to what she does in all her shows and all her videos in front of the masses to see. This is only an accurate capture of what she herself does in real life. If it is embarassing to capture it in wax, why is it ok to capture it in pictures videos, posters, etc and to do it on a stage in real life? What is the difference, honestly. If its stupid, its stupid. I am all for the argument, that what she is doing looks and is, incredibly stupid, for a mature woman.
I know women are sexual— I am above all very, but in no way do I wear stupid ass oufits and crawl around on hands and knees, only to be surprised if someone captures it in still imagery. And I do not do this for the public in order to sell more records despite having no musical talent. I dont sell mself, in other words, despite being highly sexual. I think that is the issue– my sexuality is for ME, not tailored to public interest or even to men, for that matter.
Exactly that’s YOU. You are not Beyonce, Madonna, Janet Jackson, or Mariah Carey all who’ve been on all fours in their videos. The way in which they express their sexuality has nothing to do with you. Just because you don’t agree with it, which is your right, doesn’t mean you automatically get to degrade them either.
I agree with you Marty. People don’t know what the word objectify really means, and assume that woman+ publicly sexual/immodest= objectify. @teehee: Just because you only do what you do and wear what you wear in private while Nicki wears what she wants, poses how she wants, and speaks openly about sex in public and in her songs doesn’t mean that your sexuality is good and hers is bad. I also think this “Own your sexuality and do what you want with your body, don’t let yourself be scared into yielding to the Traditional Values Crowd’s ideals on ‘appropriate ladylike womanhood’….. but don’t you DARE say, do or wear anything that can be seen as an attempt to turn on members of a gender you’re attracted to, ladies, because that’s dangerous/lowers you in value” message that gets passed around within feminism is a hypocritical and contradictory one.
@Otaku Fairy- thank you. The original comment reeked of a “well, she’s asking for it” mentality. If people don’t want to support NM, that’s fine, but let’s not act like she’s worth less because of the way she dresses/acts.
@ marty
She’s not worth less but teehee is saying how can she
Protest when she chose it? Its not like this is a new pose for her or against her religious upbringing.
They chose to do an iconic moment from Nicki’s career, and theres no denying that Anaconda was iconic. If Nicki doesn’t have a problem with it, then why should we?
I was expecting the shade to be because they made the skin so light.
For once I agree with her. I don’t care if she has posed like that before in a video. She is a rapper and they didn’t have to have her on all fours. That looks ridiculous.
They don’t but Nicki not only signed off of this pose, but she gave them the ok and posed for them. The point is Nikcki was involved from day one, she ok with it and just like her video Nicki feels this is empowering.
white people yo??
seriously? what if it was reversed and white person said “black people yo”….. we would have a WHOLE other story on our hands. racism is racism.
Agreed. Azealia, maybe more people would buy yo music if you didn’t offend them left, right, and center! We all put our pants on one leg at a time…
Meanwhile, unarmed black men are being gunned down by police for the simple act of being black – THAT is racism. Methinks you’ll get over Azealia’s insult just fine and quickly move on with the rest of your day. There really isn’t an equivalency here.
I would hate for something like anaconda to be the “iconic”(really??? Lol) moment in my career. But that’s me, this is Nicki and she is so proud of that dumb ass song so let her have it.
And, I really don’t think you can use the objectification argument bc the entire anaconda video was of Nicki objectifying herself. So…
Every other picture of a wax statue I have seen is standing up and not particularly action-oriented. However, I may not be remembering clearly. It certainly stands out and I understand her reaction.
I went to the Mme Tussaud’s in Los Angeles last year and there are all kinds of figures there that aren’t standing. There’s a really cool figure of Tony Hawk, the skater guy, mid-jump.
Most of the celebs model for the figures and have creative input on the poses.
Kylie Minogue was in a similar pose? http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f123/katiezo/februarya/waxkylie.jpg
Someone else must have posed for that statue. That is not Nicki’s face, and that sure as hell isn’t her a$$ !
With regards to Azealia Banks, what makes her think “white people” were behind the decision? Nicki must have been very heavily involved as that is the protocol. Also, what makes Azealia think no “people of color” work for the organization in charge of that statue ???
It doesn’t even look like Nicki Minaj… at all! Yes, the pose is a bit inappropriate and degrading, but Azeala Banks is a troll and is always looking for negative attention. I can’t stand her at all. She never has anything nice to say. Ever. And for her to say “white people” just proves her ignorance. She is vile and not nice at all.
is that even nicki?
i see kim on all 4s and kloe on the right
I had to scroll back up but I agree. lol
Right?
If this had been something entirely cooked up without Nicki’s consent, I’d be more likely to agree. But this was her idea, and since it’s her body, her life, her music video, her opinion is what matters most.
I saw a documentary on Madame Tussaud’s and how they make the wax figures. The stars do have input on the figures, the pose, etc. They even model for the figures. I saw footage of how they made the Beyonce figure that is at the London Mme Tussaud’s location and it’s based on her “Single Ladies” video.
I saw the documentary were they did Michelle Kwan years ago.
So she finds the wax figure demeaning but not the Anaconda video? Really what’s the diff? Anyways, they would have needed Nicki’s permission to do the statue so she had input and could have refused if she wanted to. She’s ok with it so no one else’s opinion really matters. Azalea just loves attention. No one knows her for her music, just her stupid rants on twitter.
To me her tweets sound like her attack is meant for Nicki and she’s just using the stature and “white people” as cover (pretty sure Nicki sees it that way too but it trying not to give her any attention). This stature is based on a concept Nicki and her people put together to grab attention. The entire video and album cover chosen by Nicki was demeaning and degrading but Banks held her tongue.
Nicki went on to defend her video and body type claiming the negative comments are because of her body since skinny white women expose the same body parts and crawl on all fours for modeling ads. Banks probably was fuming that Nicki was so proud of this song and video while she had more respect for Nicki’s earlier MC work.
Enter the wax figure based on Nicki’s work, her input and a statement that she loves it. Since it’s being presented by others, NOW Banks can finally attack Anaconda while pretending she’s concerned for Nicki’s reputation. LOL. Girl, you are not slick. This has nothing to do with White people and she knows it.
P.S. This is the same Banks that did suggestive “pussy cat” pictures for Playboy magazine this year. Google it, I’m sure Nicki fans on Black twitter will be reminding Banks of her hypocrisy. Not defending Nicki but I hate when some disingenuous women come out with fake concern passive aggressive style. Banks straight up is the insecure girl with massive Napoleon complex.
it’s an exact replica of an exact pose. she has
told the world how she wants to be perceived and look, it worked.
really you guys?
Did anyone read the first Paragraph,where it says Nicki chose and approved it? She loves objectifying herself, sorry, it wasn’t whitey 🙂 . Nicki chose it and approved it, ya hear that banks?
She sure does. I’m just waiting for her to say some crap about not really getting a good look at her waxed figure n when I saw it, that’s not really kinda sorta maybe well but answers that I’ve come to expect from her. I can’t take either one of them. Yes, I’m here commenting on the story, anyway.