...
By Marni Rose McFall
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Rapper Nicki Minaj has sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom on social media, accusing him of speaking to Black voters "as if they're children" in response to comments he made during a book tour event in Georgia.
Newsom—who is promoting his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, amid widespread speculation about a 2028 presidential bid—was asked about his dyslexia and the personal experiences he hoped readers would understand more deeply. He responded by describing his struggles with reading and his low SAT score, telling the audience: "I'm like you. I'm no better than you."
Minaj responded to a clip from the event, saying Newsom slowed his speech in a patronizing way toward what some online posts falsely described as an entirely Black audience. Photos from the event show a racially mixed crowd, and Newsom's remarks were not made in response to a question about race.
Read More on News
Newsweek has contacted Newsom's press office for comment outside regular working hours.
Why It Matters
In recent months, Minaj has increasingly expressed public support for President Donald Trump, his administration and Republican politics more generally. The "Super Bass" hitmaker has described herself as Trump's "number one fan" and has appeared at conservative events such as AmericaFest, where she was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk and chair of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.
Amid this shift in her political tone, Minaj has repeatedly criticized Newsom, including over his support for transgender children. While the 2028 presidential election is years away, Newsom has emerged as an early Democratic contender, attracting scrutiny and criticism that may come to bear as his potential candidacy takes shape.
...
What To Know
At the book tour event, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens interviewed Newsom, asking the governor: "What would you like for the reader to know more intimately about you? ... Even growing up with dyslexia and all that, what do you want us to take from that?"
"Like so many folks, I put a mask on, and my face was starting to grow into it," Newsom said, adding that he was unhappy wearing that façade.
"I'm not trying to be someone I'm not. I can't do that anymore," the governor continued, adding: "I'm not trying to impress you. I'm just trying to impress upon you, I'm like you. I'm no better than you."
"I'm a 960 SAT guy. And I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm not trying to act all there if you got 940," Newsom said, which sparked laughter from the audience.
"You've never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech," he continued. "Maybe the wrong business to be in."
Newsom added that he had not overcome dyslexia but was "living with it."
A clip of Newsom's answer has been widely shared on X. User @EndWokeness posted the clip on Sunday, and it has since been viewed at least 18.5 million times. That clip does not show the question asked or the audience present.
Sharing this clip, Minaj wrote on X, "His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read."
She added, "He's not just TELLING them that they're all probably stupid & probably can't read, he's LITERALLY SLOW-ING-DOWN-HIS-SPEECH to make them understand the words that are coming out of his mouth!!!! As if they're children!!!!"
Multiple X posts claimed the audience was entirely Black. However, images of the audience and the people who waited outside to attend the event indicate a racially diverse audience.
Newsom has not directly addressed Minaj's previous criticism. However, in December, his X account shared a 12-second video clip with footage of President Donald Trump and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That clip was set to the 2024 Megan Thee Stallion song Hiss, which is understood to be a diss track in a long-standing feud between Minaj and Megan.
The Hiss lyrics used in the social media clip include a reference to Megan's Law, a California legislation that strengthened the licensing of sex offenders in the state. The line has been interpreted as a reference to Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, who was once placed on supervised probation after failing to register as a sex offender in California.
Petty previously served four years in prison as a Level 2 sex offender. He was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl, whom he held at knifepoint, in 1994.
What People Are Saying
Nicki Minaj wrote on X: "My first read on him was correct. He's been handed so many things & put in high positions he never earned or deserved. Do you wanna know the craziest part of this footage that will haunt him forever? He's literally slowing his speech down & talking in a sporadic cadence."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said at the book event in Atlanta: "I say to kids all the time, 'Learn from, don't follow others.' You know, your expression is unique. Nobody else has it. Some of you may have seen some of my social media—you know this, I'm on the other side. I just am. I'm on the other side. I don't want to dream of regretting anymore. No coulda, woulda, shoulda. It's all out there. I just wanted to put it all out there."
What Happens Next
Young Man in a Hurry is set to be released on February 24. Newsom's book tour has upcoming stops in California and New York.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines