The Barbz might be the most loyal fanbase in music, but even they are finding it hard to deflect the latest round of heavy-hitting allegations aimed at Nicki Minaj. In a series of candid and deeply unflattering posts on Threads, Australian actor and DJ Ruby Rose has opened up about her time as an opener for the “Super Freaky Girl” rapper, and the picture she paints isn’t just one of “diva behavior”. It’s a portrait of a workplace culture defined by fear and a staggering ego.
Ruby Rose, who has largely stayed out of Minaj’s orbit for over a decade, decided to break her silence following a week of heightened political and social tension surrounding the rapper, adding her voice to a growing chorus of former collaborators and industry peers who claim the “Queen of Rap” is anything but a dream to work with.
The catalyst for this sudden spill of behind-the-scenes tea was Minaj’s recent, highly controversial digital dust-up with journalist Don Lemon. After Lemon provided coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church (an event that has become a flashpoint in the current political climate), Minaj took to social media with a scorched-earth response.
The rapper, who has increasingly aligned herself with conservative “MAGA” rhetoric in recent months, lambasted Lemon for his reporting. However, it wasn’t just the political disagreement that caught the internet’s attention; it was the tone. When a Threads user shared a screenshot of an alleged anti-gay slur directed at Lemon by Minaj, Ruby Rose, who identifies as a lesbian and gender-fluid, saw an opening to share her own history with the star.
“I toured with Nicki Minaj,” Rose wrote, setting the stage for a story that quickly went viral. “Her ego is so outsized she HAD to fire someone after every show. Publicly, because she is 3 ft maga.”
The Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour
To understand the weight of these claims, we have to look back to 2012, the era of the Pink Friday: Reloaded Tour. This was Minaj at her commercial peak, a neon-colored whirlwind of pop-rap dominance. Ruby Rose, then primarily known as a DJ and burgeoning TV personality in Australia, was an opener for the tour’s leg Down Under.
According to Rose’s recent posts, the glamor of the stage did not extend to the backstage environment. Rose alleges that Minaj’s penchant for public terminations started on night one. “On night one she fired the security for not seamlessly carrying her from the stage, because she went to jump off several bars early,” Rose claimed. While “diva” stories are common in the music industry, Rose suggests these weren’t isolated incidents but a deliberate display of power intended to keep the staff in a state of constant anxiety.
The most bizarre allegation, however, involves a birthday celebration that reportedly went south over the most sensitive of topics in Hollywood: age. Rose recounted a “best” (read: worst) night during the tour when the entire crew felt they were on the chopping block. According to the actor, a team member had organized a heartfelt birthday montage featuring video messages from celebrities and friends. “So kind! Only problem was, of the dozen or so video messages that came in, not one had her age ‘right,’” Rose wrote. “And now her real age had been leaked.”
The implication that a superstar would consider firing their entire staff because a birthday video accidentally highlighted her actual birth year added a layer of absurdity to the already serious claims of workplace volatility.
This isn’t the first time Minaj’s age or her treatment of staff has been a point of contention, but Rose’s comments land at a time when Minaj is already facing intense scrutiny for her shifting political allegiances. Over the past year, the rapper has surprised many by praising Donald Trump and appearing at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest.
This “MAGA” pivot is particularly striking given Minaj’s own history; she has previously spoken about being an undocumented immigrant as a child. Critics, including comedian D. L. Hughley, have joined Don Lemon in questioning how her current defense of ICE and right-wing policies squares with her personal background. Rose’s jab at Minaj being “3 ft maga” suggests that for those who worked with her, the seeds of this persona were planted long ago.
Yvette Nicole Brown Joins the Fray
When a star of Ruby Rose’s stature speaks out, it often creates a “safe space” for others to follow. Shortly after Rose’s posts began circulating, veteran actress Yvette Nicole Brown chimed in with a story that was arguably more visceral. Brown didn’t speak on her own experience but relayed a story from a trusted contact in the industry.
“I know someone who worked on the wardrobe team that did a fitting at her house,” Brown shared on Threads. The story alleged that Minaj refused to let the wardrobe staff use the bathroom in her home. “Not even the guest bathroom near the front door. Just decided that they didn’t deserve to relieve themselves on her sacred premises. #Trash,” Brown added. While this remains an unverified anecdote, the fact that a respected industry veteran like Brown would attach her name to such a claim speaks to the current climate of “de-influencing” the rap icon.
It is important to note that, as of this writing, Nicki Minaj has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations made by Rose or Brown. In the past, Minaj has been known to address detractors directly via her “Queen Radio” broadcasts or via rapid-fire tweets, often dismissing criticism as “jealousy” or part of a coordinated effort to “cancel” her. However, the nature of these claims, specifically those involving the mistreatment of lower-level staff like security and wardrobe assistants, is harder to dismiss as mere industry rivalry. There is a distinct difference between a “feud” with another rapper and allegations of creating a hostile work environment for everyday employees.
We are seeing a shift in how celebrity behavior is litigated in the public square. In 2012, these stories might have been buried in “blind items” or laughed off as the eccentricities of a “diva.” In 2026, they are viewed through the lens of labor rights and professional ethics. My take is that the “Queen” brand relies on a certain level of untouchable brilliance, but if the foundation of that throne is built on the mistreatment of the “little people,” the crown starts to look a lot more like tinfoil.
Rose’s parting shot; “I could go on, but I’m waiting for her next outburst”, suggests that the floodgates are only halfway open.
