Minaj Urges Blakeman Support After Hochul Attack

Nicki Minaj urged Black and Christian voters to support Republican Bruce Blakeman in New York’s gubernatorial race after calling Gov. Kathy Hochul an “evil woman” in posts on X on October 28. Hochul responded at a campaign stop in Albany, telling the rapper to spend less time online and stop attending Donald Trump rallies, which she said were “poisoning your mind.” Minaj’s posts criticized Hochul’s leadership and argued that Democrats should give up on her reelection bid. Minaj warned that Hochul would not escape God’s wrath, then urged voters to back Blakeman, Hochul’s Republican challenger. Her religious language and appeals to specific groups were part of her political criticism; the posts do not establish the accusations she made about the governor. Minaj linked her attack to Hochul’s 2024 remarks about Black children in the Bronx and their familiarity with computers. Hochul apologized that day, saying she had misspoken and acknowledging that Black children knew what computers were. She said her point was about unequal access to technology and opportunities in fields such as artificial intelligence. Hochul’s response referred to Minaj’s support for Trump and her...