Taylor Swift apologizes in MTV VMA issue

NEW YORK, USA – Pop superstar Taylor Swift apologized Thursday, July 23 to rapper Nicki Minaj after striking a rare false note in an online row over the MTV Video Music Awards nominations.

Minaj had charged that her “Anaconda” was passed over for Video of the Year due to bias against African American women, with the music industry preferring “very slim” women. (READ: Taylor Swift responds to Nicki Minaj’s tweets on the MTV VMAs).

The very slim Swift, who received the most nominations for the August 30 awards, responded to Minaj that “I’ve done nothing but love and support you” and invited her to share the stage if she wins for her video “Bad Blood.” 

“It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot,” Swift, a self-identified feminist, wrote on Twitter.

@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

Nearly two days later and facing criticism, Swift – who has usually managed to avoid controversy in her smooth-sailing career – backtracked.

“I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki,” Swift tweeted.

I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki. @NICKIMINAJ

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2015

Minaj had said she was bewildered by Swift’s original response and that she instead wished that Swift had spoken out on portrayals of African American women.

She indicated Thursday that any “bad blood” was over, tweeting in response to the apology: “That means so much Taylor, thank you.”

That means so much Taylor, thank you. @taylorswift13 ❤️❤️❤️

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2015

The controversy brought an unexpected intervention Wednesday from another singing star, Katy Perry, who suggested that Swift was using the “pit woman against each other argument” while herself putting down another woman, Minaj. (READ: Katy Perry comments on Taylor Swift’s tweet to Nicki Minaj)

Finding it ironic to parade the pit women against other women argument about as one unmeasurably capitalizes on the take down of a woman…

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 22, 2015

Perry’s tweet to her nearly 73 million followers marked a rare moment that the long-rumored tension between two of the era’s top pop singers has come into the open. – Rappler.com