Nicki Minaj’s Claim of COVID-19 Vaccine ‘Swollen Testicles’ False, Trinidad Health Minister Says

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sept. 15 (Reuters) – Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday called US rapper Nicki Minaj’s claim that someone on the Caribbean island suffered from swollen testicles after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Minaj, born in Trinidad, sparked international fury when she claimed on Twitter that her cousin in Trinidad refused to be vaccinated because her friend had become impotent after being vaccinated.

“Her testicles became swollen. Her friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl has called off the wedding,” Minaj, who has 22.6 million Twitter followers, said on Monday.

The comments sparked an international backlash, with senior US and UK coronavirus officials condemning the claims.

Deyalsingh also denounced the Grammy-nominated artist’s statement as a waste of time.

“One of the reasons we couldn’t respond to Miss Minaj in real time yesterday is that we had to check and make sure what she was claiming was right or wrong. Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday. to decipher this false claim, ”Deyalsingh said.

Asked about Minaj’s tweets, Dr Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert, said there was a lot of misinformation on social media.

“I don’t blame her for anything – but she should think twice before spreading information that really has no basis except a one-off anecdote, and that’s not the point of science. “

Minaj said in a separate tweet that she hadn’t been able to do enough research on COVID-19 vaccines herself to get one in time for the Met Gala, a star-studded fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Minaj later added that she will get the vaccine so she can tour.

Reporting by Linda Hutchinson-Jafar in Port of Spain; Writing by Jake Kincaid; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Bill Berkrot

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