Logan Reed
The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. In 2021, the Met Gala required all attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks. This decision was in line with New York City's vaccine mandate for indoor patrons at restaurants, entertainment facilities, and other indoor places. The vaccination requirement sparked controversy, particularly due to rapper Nicki Minaj's public refusal to get vaccinated solely to attend the event. Minaj cited the need for more personal research and shared misinformation about the vaccine's effectiveness. Despite facing criticism from celebrities and fans, Minaj stood by her decision, and her absence from the Met Gala sparked discussions about vaccine hesitancy and the influence of celebrities on public health decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 13 September 2021 |
| Theme | "American Independence" |
| Dress code | American fashion |
| Hosts | Gen Z superstars Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Naomi Osaka and Amanda Gorman |
| Honorary chairs | Tom Ford, Adam Mosseri and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour |
| COVID-19 requirements | Attendees must provide proof of full vaccination and wear masks indoors except when eating or drinking |
| Notable attendees | Mayor Bill de Blasio, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chance the Rapper |
| Notable non-attendees | Nicki Minaj (due to vaccine requirements) |
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What You'll Learn
- Nicki Minaj refused to get vaccinated to attend the Met Gala
- Minaj tweeted misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine
- Invited guests were required to show proof of vaccination
- Celebrities and fans criticised Minaj for her anti-vaccine stance
- Minaj later walked back her stance, saying she would likely get vaccinated
Nicki Minaj refused to get vaccinated to attend the Met Gala
Nicki Minaj refused to get vaccinated to attend the 2021 Met Gala. She took to Twitter to confirm that she wouldn't be attending the event because she didn't want to get the COVID-19 vaccine solely for the occasion.
"They want you to get vaccinated for the Met," she tweeted. "If I get vaccinated it won't [be] for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now. In the meantime, my loves, be safe." She also encouraged those attending to "wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one."
In a series of tweets, Minaj also revealed that she had recently contracted COVID-19 and that her cousin's friend in Trinidad received the vaccine and "his testicles swelled." She added that his fiancée called off the wedding as a result.
While Minaj faced criticism for her comments and for spreading misinformation about COVID, she did later walk back her stance on the vaccine, saying that she would likely get vaccinated before going on tour. She also posted a poll on Twitter asking her followers which vaccine they would recommend.
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Minaj tweeted misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine
The Met Gala 2021 required attendees to provide proof of vaccination and wear face masks. Nicki Minaj tweeted that she had not received the vaccine and would not be attending the Met Gala as a result. She also said that she would get vaccinated once she had "done enough research".
Minaj's tweets about the COVID-19 vaccine were criticised for spreading misinformation. She tweeted that her cousin's friend in Trinidad received the vaccine and had a negative reaction that left him impotent. Minaj also said that Drake contracted COVID after being vaccinated. However, according to a report from the New York Times, the chances of contracting coronavirus after receiving the vaccine drop to around one in 5,000.
Minaj later acknowledged that the vaccines help in keeping COVID at bay for most people and said that she would likely get vaccinated when she goes on tour. She also posted a poll on which vaccine people would recommend.
The spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine has been a major barrier to achieving higher levels of vaccination in the United States. Celebrities with large social media followings perpetuating misinformation have been criticised for scaring people and making it harder to convince them to get vaccinated.
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Invited guests were required to show proof of vaccination
The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. In 2021, the Met Gala enforced a COVID-19 vaccination mandate and mask requirement for all attendees. Invited guests were required to show proof of vaccination and expected to wear masks indoors unless they were eating or drinking.
The decision was in line with New York City's vaccine mandate for indoor patrons at restaurants, fitness centres, and entertainment facilities. This meant that invited guests to the Met Gala, an indoor event, had to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.
Some celebrities, such as Dolly Parton and Olivia Rodrigo, encouraged people to get vaccinated. However, rapper Nicki Minaj tweeted that she would not be attending the 2021 Met Gala due to its vaccination requirement. She stated that she wanted to do her own research before getting vaccinated and that she would get vaccinated when she goes on tour. Minaj also tweeted misinformation about the vaccine, claiming that her cousin's friend in Trinidad became impotent after receiving the vaccine.
There were rumours of other unvaccinated celebrities missing the Met Gala or procuring fake vaccine cards to attend.
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Celebrities and fans criticised Minaj for her anti-vaccine stance
Nicki Minaj sparked controversy after she took to Twitter to confirm that she would not be attending the Met Gala due to her refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She stated that the event wasn't a good enough reason for her to get vaccinated and that she wanted to conduct her own research first. Minaj also shared misinformation about the vaccine, claiming that her cousin's friend in Trinidad experienced swollen testicles and impotence after being vaccinated, which led to his fiancée calling off their wedding.
Dolly Parton, who helped fund the research for the Moderna vaccine, appealed to hesitant individuals to get vaccinated, saying, "Don't be such a chicken squat. Get out there and get your shot." In July 2021, President Biden invited pop star Olivia Rodrigo to the White House, where she encouraged young people to get vaccinated, emphasising the ease of access to the vaccines.
While Minaj did not explicitly identify as anti-vaccine, her statements and actions contributed to a narrative that aligned with anti-vaccine sentiments. She later walked back her stance, indicating that she would likely get vaccinated when she goes on tour. Minaj's comments ignited discussions about the responsibilities of celebrities and public figures in disseminating health-related information.
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Minaj later walked back her stance, saying she would likely get vaccinated
Nicki Minaj initially stated that she would not be getting vaccinated to attend the Met Gala. She tweeted:
> "They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. If I get vaccinated it won't [be] for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one."
However, Minaj later walked back her stance, saying she would likely get vaccinated in the future. She clarified that she was not opposed to the vaccine and would probably get vaccinated when she had completed more research and was ready to go on tour. She also posted a poll on which vaccine people would recommend. Minaj also said that she wasn't discouraging others from getting the vaccine, especially those who needed it for work. She tweeted:
> "I know babe. A lot of countries won't let ppl work w/o the vaccine. I'd def recommend they get the vaccine. They have to feed their families."
Despite walking back her stance, Minaj continued to spread misinformation about the vaccine, including a claim that her cousin's friend in Trinidad experienced impotency after getting vaccinated. This claim was debunked by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who stated that there is "no evidence" that the COVID-19 vaccine causes impotency or fertility issues. Minaj faced criticism from celebrities, fans, and health officials for her comments and her initial refusal to get vaccinated for the Met Gala.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the 2021 Met Gala had a COVID-19 vaccination mandate and mask requirement.
No, Nicki Minaj did not attend the Met Gala because of its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
Yes, she tweeted: "They want you to get vaccinated for the Met. If I get vaccinated it won't be for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research."
Minaj later tweeted that she would likely get vaccinated when she goes on tour.
