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Trinidad And Tobago’s Minister Of Health Shuts Down Nicki Minaj’s Vaccine Claims

Trinidad And Tobago’s Minister Of Health Shuts Down Nicki Minaj’s Vaccine Claims

The rapper posted a controversial tweet earlier this week in which she claimed her cousin's friend had had some adverse side-effects

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Nicki Minaj's cousin's friend's claims of swollen testicles and infertility have been shut down by Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Health who said the claims 'wasted time'. You can see his comments here:

In case you're reading the above sentence with some confusion - and let's be honest it's a bit of an odd one - allow me to fill you in.

On Monday (13 September), the rapper posted a tweet in which she claimed a pal of her cousin had had his wedding called off due to the vaccine.

She wrote: "My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding.

"So just pray on it & make sure you're comfortable with ur decision, not bullied."

PA

Now, for those of you who are vaccinated or are considering being vaccinated but are worried about your testicles, fear not, because it turns out Minaj was talking a load of... erm... bo****ks.

Responding to the tweet, Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Health, said he had wasted a lot of time over the fake claims.

Speaking during a press conference, he said: "It is, as far as we know, at this point in time - there has been no such reported either side effect or adverse event.

"And what was sad about this is that it wasted our time yesterday, trying to track down, because we take all these claims seriously, whether it's on social media or mainstream media.

"As we stand now, there is absolutely no reported such side effect or adverse event of testicular swelling in Trinidad or, I dare say, Dr. Hinds, anywhere else. None that we know of anywhere else in the world."

Deyalsingh is not the only official to speak out against the controversial tweet.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the UK's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty criticised Minaj for her tweet.

PA

Whitty said: "There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous and some of which are clearly designed just to scare.

"That [Minaj's claim] happens to be one of them."

Whitty added: "Many of those people I regret to say will know they are pedalling untruths but they still do it.

"In my view, they should be ashamed."

But it seems as though Minaj actually quite enjoyed being namechecked by Whitty as she later took to Twitter to say: "I love him even tho I guess this was a diss? The accent ugh! Yassss boo!!!"

And just when you thought 2021 had no more surprises in store, eh?

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Celebrity, Weird