What’s the Real Reason for Nicki Minaj and SZA’s Public Feud?

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On Tuesday, July 15th, Nicki Minaj sparked a fresh digital firestorm by launching an unfiltered attack on SZA over the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). What began as a night focused on Nicki’s support for Demoree Hadley, daughter of Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, quickly spiraled into a fierce exchange shaking up the R&B and hip-hop communities.

Nicki’s verbal assault was harsh: she accused SZA of sounding “like a dead dog” and “like she got stung by a bee.” Nicki went on to claim that if SZA’s entire catalog vanished, “the music industry wouldn’t even notice.” The rapper didn’t stop there—she bluntly told SZA to “shut up, ugly.” So, what triggered this explosive rant?

A Cryptic Tweet Ignites the Firestorm

The spark appears to have been a vague tweet from SZA about Mercury retrograde: “Don’t take the bait.” Nicki, who had been posting under the hashtag #JusticeForDemoree, interpreted the message as a subtle diss aimed at her, prompting a barrage of insults and accusations.

The background here is crucial. Demoree Hadley, 21, publicly accused Roc Nation and her mother of allegedly involuntarily committing her to a psychiatric institution. Nicki Minaj threw her support behind Demoree, implying she herself has faced similar coercive treatment within the music industry.

Shutup ugly #JusticeForDemoree

I’m in a meeting so idk if u was still talking shit or not so if you didn’t I’ll delete later. Hoe https://t.co/GwpNPznSR9

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) July 15, 2025

Amid this context, Nicki accused SZA of staying silent when her executive allegedly harassed her, inflating her streaming numbers with bots, and releasing a deluxe version of SOS just to boost stats. “Does SZA think she’s more successful than me?” Nicki wrote in one of her most viral posts.

In response to the verbal onslaught, SZA chose a calm and measured reply: “I don’t care one bit about this weird stuff you’re throwing at me,” she tweeted. She also took the moment to highlight her thriving career and personal success, noting she’s about to achieve her first Diamond-certified album and that her ongoing Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar is smashing it.

Nicki Minaj’s History of High-Profile Feuds

This latest clash with SZA is far from Nicki Minaj’s first public rivalry with fellow female artists. Over the years, she has had notable run-ins with major stars.

Back in 2015, Nicki confronted Miley Cyrus during the MTV Video Music Awards after Cyrus criticized her in an interview. The tension arose when Cyrus dismissed Minaj’s feud with Taylor Swift, which Minaj felt minimized the experiences of Black women. During the VMAs, Nicki famously called out Miley from the stage, demanding, “Miley, what’s good?”

More notoriously, Nicki’s rivalry with Cardi B escalated in 2018 following a physical altercation at Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party during New York Fashion Week. Though they publicly attempted to reconcile in 2019, their feud has flared up repeatedly since. Recently, Cardi B addressed the ongoing tension in a TikTok Live, expressing indifference and suggesting she’s moved past the drama.

Nicki has also had public spats with other artists like Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, often involving heated social media exchanges. These recurring rivalries have solidified Nicki’s reputation as a lightning rod for controversy within the music industry.