Madame Tussauds revealed a wax figure that was reportedly supposed to resemble superstar Nicki Minaj. However, as her fans have noticed, the face on the new piece looks absolutely nothing like the “Tusa” rapper.
The wax figure debuted in Berlin this week and attempts to bring the look from her infamous “Anaconda” music video to life, with the Minaj costumed in gold chains and gold heels. But people have expressed dismay on social media over the waxwork’s apparently whitewashed facial features.
“That’s a wax sculpture of a white woman. Nicki Minaj is very much a black woman,” one person wrote on Twitter.
No one on Twitter was having it.
The Staff: “PLEASE JUST LOOK AT A PICTURE OF NICKI MINAJ JUST ONCE!”
— X (@XLNB) January 7, 2020
Madame Tussauds Wax Sculptor: https://t.co/aP5Jhkx5bX pic.twitter.com/IplGtByxc7
that Nicki Minaj wax figure pic.twitter.com/s767TPN41Y
— 🌼𝔐.ℭ⁷🌼 (@moon_chilld_) January 7, 2020
Some of the responses to the wax figure were more hilarious than mean-spirited, and also rich with reaction memes and GIFs.
That ain’t Nicki Minaj that’s pic.twitter.com/JSBFyOVDfK
— R Sac (@PLUGMEINSAC) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/SHABANGBANGGG/status/1214638397714767873?s=20
Berlin really just created a portal where you can access alternate realities, went to one where nicki is white and made a wax figure based on that https://t.co/NusXSgWzLs
— honey bunches of jokes (@laylabyclapton) January 7, 2020
In an interesting twist, however, Minaj’s wax figure–believed to be brand-new–has long been available. In fact, TMZ has reported that the figure was first unveiled in Las Vegas back in 2015 and that Minaj worked directly with Madame Tussauds on the design–and signed off on it.
Per TMZ: “We’re told Minaj’s wax likeness was moved to Germany because the museum loans statues out frequently to mix up the attractions at its various locations. Also, for all the haters claiming Nicki’s being disrespected because the figure doesn’t look anything like her … she disagrees. Our sources say, her team actually worked with the museum on the project in 2015, and she signed off on it before it went public.”
In fact, the public might be going on about nothing, considering Minaj actually posted about her wax figure in 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/5-EaO_L8WF/?utm_source=ig_embed
She even posted the source photo from the video shoot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/5-X8jtr8eZ/?utm_source=ig_embed
Problematic or not, Nicki Minaj fans aren’t thrilled.
