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Taylor Swift has apologised to Nicki Minaj after wading into her critique of racism in the music industry, saying, "I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I'm sorry, Nicki."
The debate was prompted by the announcement of the MTV VMA nominations. Nicki Minaj received three, but her Beyonce collaboration, 'Feeling Myself', was snubbed - and 'Anaconda' failed to be recognised in the choreography category.
"If I was a different 'kind' of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well," tweeted Minaj. She then added, "When the 'other' girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination. If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year."
Interpreting this as a direct reference to her own nomination for 'Bad Blood', Taylor Swift decided to respond - a decision that many have deemed to be derailing. "I've done nothing but love & support you," she wrote. "It's unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot.."
Minaj's response was one of confusion, and she subsequently took to Instagram to write, "Nothing to do with any of the women, but everything to do with a system that doesn't credit black women for their contributions to pop culture as freely/quickly as they reward others."
Huh? U must not be reading my tweets. Didn't say a word about u. I love u just as much. But u should speak on this. @taylorswift13
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Nothing I said had to do with Taylor. So what jabs? White media and their tactics. So sad. That's what they want. https://t.co/AfcwoyDvpg
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 21, 2015
Now, after several high-profile people have also entered the debate, and several mainstream publications have criticised Swift for derailing the conversation of race, Swift has taken to Twitter to apologise.
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 is yet to respond to Swift's apology.
