Nicki Minaj woke up Tuesday to discover that "Anaconda" has been nominated for the MTV Video Music Awards' Best Female Video and Best Hip-Hip Video, but she was surprised the video was left out of the race for Video of the Year and Best Choreography.
Minaj, who said she was thankful for her two nominations, expressed her disappointment in tweets explaining the video's impact on pop culture last year. The video notably broke Vevo's 24-hour streaming record, previously held by Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," with 19.6 million views (Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" now holds the record with 20.1 million views).
Her tweets about institutional racism, and her followers' support, caused "Anaconda" and "Nicki" to become worldwide trending topics on Twitter. She also was confused why "Feeling Myself," a collaboration with Beyoncé, wasn't nominated at all.
Some of the tweets were directed toward the female Video of the Year nominees, and the tweets drew a response from Swift, who is nominated for "Bad Blood."
@NICKIMINAJ I've done nothing but love & support you. It's unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot..— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn't say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
@NICKIMINAJ If I win, please come up with me!! You're invited to any stage I'm ever on.— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 21, 2015
The only other female nominee was Beyoncé for "7/11." The other Video of the Year nominees were Ed Sheeran (“Thinking Out Loud”), Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (“Uptown Funk”) and Kendrick Lamar (“Alright”).
Nominations are determined by a voting panel that includes this music journalist.
Hey guys @MTV thank you for my nominations. Did Feeling Myself miss the deadline or...?— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
If I was a different "kind" of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ellen did her own anaconda video and did the #choreo lol. Remember her doing that kick . Even mtv did a post on the choreo @MTV remember?— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
U couldn't go on social media w/o seeing ppl doing the cover art, choreo, outfits for Halloween...an impact like that & no VOTY nomination?— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
When the "other" girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ok love u guys I have to get ready. Keep reppin me, do it til the death of me. X in the box. Cuz ain't nobody checkin me— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Oh but trust me. I'll be on that stage to collect my awards for vid of the year. Feeling Myself & Anaconda. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
QueenBey hit me about Anaconda after the IG snippet was released saying how much she loved it. She was also VERY hands on w/FeelingMyself — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
I'm not always confident. Just tired. Black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it. https://t.co/2xOvJzBXJX— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn't say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
They're not missing the point, they're just attempting to overshadow the point. Oldest trick in the book. https://t.co/Y4dt1vKk6C— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Nothing I said had to do with Taylor. So what jabs? White media and their tactics. So sad. That's what they want. https://t.co/AfcwoyDvpg— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Ryan posted a headline of Taylor saying she loves & supports me. But not me saying the same to her. Lol. Their headline says I took a "jab"?— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
I'm so glad u guys get to see how this stuff works. Taylor took her music off spotify and was applauded. We launched Tidal & were dragged.— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Lol u guys did we miss the deadline?? #MTV? A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Jul 21, 2015 at 11:45am PDT
nicki was making valid points about the history of racism in the music industry, taylor should be standing by her not making it about her— becca (@margaerytyreII) July 21, 2015
.@taylorswift13 stop using "support all girls" as an excuse to not be critical of racist media that benefits and glorifies you— berenice (@itsbereniced) July 21, 2015
I'm baffled as to WHY @taylorswift13 felt the need to come at @NickiMinaj for speaking on behalf of unsung black female entertainers..— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) July 21, 2015
All my videos deserve VMas and my album deserves a Grammy but I'll never get one because America doesn't like opinionated black women.— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) July 21, 2015
Minaj memorably performed "Anaconda" during last year's VMAs opening medley, but the music video missed the eligibility deadline, which is why it was nominated this year.