Jonathan Van Ness slams Nicki Minaj for covering Harper’s Bazaar Russia
The Queer Eye star expressed his anger at Minaj for appearing on the magazine cover
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness has called out Nicki Minaj for appearing on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Russia.
The 35-year-old singer landed the cover of the August 2018 issue of the magazine, but reality star Van Ness has criticised the singer for appearing in the magazine.
Sharing an image of the cover on Friday (July 13), Van Ness pointed to Russia’s anti-LGBT+ propaganda laws and Chechnya’s treatment of LGBT+ citizens before stating that the cover should have been a “hard pass”.
He wrote: “Russia has anti-LGBTQIA propaganda laws, Chechnya supported by Russia tortures its LGBTQIA citizens, & w your LGBTQ+ fans you can’t even speak to that in this interview bc it’s illegal in Russia, what’s good @nickiminaj, this should’ve been a hard pass.”
Russia has anti LGBTQIA propaganda laws, Chechnya supported by Russia tortures it’s LGBTQIA citizens, & w your LGBTQ+ fans you can’t even speak to that in this interview bc it’s illegal in Russia, what’s good @NICKIMINAJ , this should’ve been a hard pass. pic.twitter.com/6WqZdXSKKl
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) July 13, 2018
Van Ness’ tweet left fans divided as many of his followers praised him for speaking out. Other followers, however, hit back at Van Ness, arguing that Russian citizens deserved to see their favourite musicians on their magazines.
Van Ness later tweeted again, insisting he didn’t want to “start a Twitter war” and writing: “I’m just disappointed in some people from where I’m sitting in life & start noticing things.”
Anyway really happy today, didn’t mean to start a Twitter war, I’m just disappointed in some people from where I’m sitting in life & start noticing things. Biggest hug to eryone
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) July 13, 2018
Although Minaj, who is regarded as an LGBT ally, has yet to respond to the tweet, she has shared several images from the shoot.