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Controversial Grammy Performer Nicki Minaj Has At Least One Conservative Fan: Sen. Marco Rubio

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by Tommy Christopher | 9:00 pm, February 13th, 2012

» 28 comments

Hip-hop star Nicki Minaj really set the stage on fire at last night’s Grammy Awards, at least in a literal sense, but her exorcism-themed performance of Roman Holiday got a considerably colder reaction from critics, and enraged many Catholics and religious conservatives. It may even have cost her at least one prominent fan: in a May interview with The Daily Caller‘s Matt Lewis, Sen. Marco Rubio named Minaj one of his musical faves.

Minaj’s religion-tweaking performance has been getting less-than-stellar reviews from critics who note that the Catholic-baiting thing has been done to death, but maybe that’s the point: no matter how much it’s done, people still talk about it. The performance drew outrage from some Catholics and conservatives, who saw it as sacrilegious.

I suppose it’s a matter of taste, but aside from Minaj’s Papal red carpet “date,” her actual performance didn’t seem all that offensive. It was highly stylized and bombastic, for sure, but in the confines of pop culture spectacle, I didn’t see anything that really qualifies as “blasphemous,” or even as “mockery” of Catholicism.

I would also disagree with critics who have that “been there, done that” attitude. The spot was obviously an homage to the exorcism genre, but it was well-staged and memorable.

Here’s a clip of Minaj’s performance, judge for yourselves:

The outrage at Minaj’s performance, though, put me in mind of one prominent Catholic conservative who sings Minaj’s praises, or at least, he did a few months ago. Here’s Florida Sen. Marco Rubio discussing his pop culture preferences with Matt Lewis:

Now that she’s a somewhat controversial figure on the right, it will be interesting to see if Rubio stays on the Nicki Minaj train, or if she ends up under the bus.

grammy awards, Grammys, Marco Rubio, matt lewis, Nicki Minaj, Roman Holiday, The Daily Caller

http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot.com/ Norbit Peters

That’s Vice President Marco Rubio to you!
http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot.com/ Norbit Peters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MUD_jxv5ygw#t=0s

What strikes more fear into the hearts of Democrats than a combustion engine, bible, and private sector job?

You’re looking at him!

Listen to what the new breed of articulate, well-reasoned Republican sounds like.

http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot,com
Anonymous

Good grief…her ass must have its own zip code!
Anonymous

Rubio seems a little too level-headed to take the bait on this non-story. Next…
Anonymous

You would need a passport to hit it from the back.
Anonymous

They pose a very valid ?

Why doesn’t Hollywood make fun of Islam?

Because I think a parody of the “prophet Muhammad” and Jerry Sanduski would be
appropriate, considering there similar vile and disgusting backgrounds.
Now that would be funny!!!!!!!!!!
Verreauxii

I would if it was “real.”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Neil-Murphy/100000566621491 Neil Murphy

I dont know W T F this article about, but the video is unintelligable garbage…
Verreauxii

Minaj sucks…….I just can’t handle the screechy stuff. My type of lady rappers are Queen Latifah, Queen Penn, Da Brat, Rah Digga, Lady of Rage, Yo-Yo, Eve, MC Lyte etc. Chicks who can actually flow and don’t sound like complete buffoons. I left out a lot of good lady rappers out there too.
AIiveStiIIKickin

Well….She ain’t and never will be Whitney.
Who is she anyway?
Anonymous

Tommy what is “exorcism genre”?
Anonymous

Nicki Minaj’s performance at the Grammy’s was DISGUSTING! Thanks to the remote control to change channels….
Anonymous

I don’t care about the religious aspect of it, but the critics are right. The concept was lame to start with and then horribly executed. She’s not a Gaga or Madonna in the performance art department – not equipped to successfully pull it off. I’m surprised the Grammys allowed it – not because of content but because it just plain donked.
http://gamewhen.com/ Michael T

Pulp Fiction and the Godfather movies eh?

That kind of fits. With the exception of the Matt Lewis interview I have usually found Rubio a bit overly sober like he just came from a funeral … very dour at times bordering on morose.
http://twitter.com/Agonzo1 anthonybgonzalez

it wasn’t even good, well-executed, or thought through at all. just for shock, and i found it boring.
http://twitter.com/JCP1975 JCP1975

RINO
Anonymous

I thought it was plain awful and embarrassing.

I don’t know what’s worse though, that awful “production” or Chris Brown thinking he can be Hip Hop, R&B, Electro House, and hipsterwave all at the same time.
Anonymous

what ghetto is this one from?
Anonymous

An educated electorate is also big cause of concern as well…don’t forget that.
Anonymous

Because Hollywood’s couragouse pursuit of expression stops short when the thought of their heads, and the head’s of their family members could be removed for doing a similar spot on Islam.

They’re kinda like the bully who will only pick a fight with those they know will not reciprocate. aka…a coward.
sid_id

LOL, I love it when you talk that way.
http://twitter.com/MerryMarjie MerryMarjie

Mozart is crying in his grave. This is MUSIC?
AIiveStiIIKickin

When you force a talentless, ghetto, liberal, cross-dressing POS who can’t sing in to play with the big boys…this is the result.
Anonymous

Try because your government (going back more than the current president) advises “Hollywood” to not start something that SOLDIERS will have to finish. They would make fun of “prophet Muhammad” daily, but MUSLIM’s have this thing they do that scares THE UNITED STATES. I have no issue with it. I’d rather have our artists and writers ALIVE vs. stabbed in a market by some crazy idiot. Do you read the papers, they are JUST finishing the trial of the guy who threatened the SOUTH PARK guys for their “parody” of the prophet. Please, before you lash out, learn something.
Oh, I dont like Nicki, and I gues RUBIO “likes big butts and he can not lie”.
Anonymous

Sadly its REAL and I’l bet you good cash that by the time she’s in her mid 30s, she’ll make a beeping noise when she backs up. THAT “thing” behind her is only going to grow larger.. and again, IT IS REAL.
Anonymous

ROFL.. LMAO.. are you serious. RUBIO wouldnt have lasted this long with the current NEW GOP base. He’s WAYYYY too intelligent for the current version of GOP. BUT, you are correct, in 4 years, RUBIO will be the GOP dude to beat, if the GOP can resurrect its intelligence above reality TV stars, bored wealthy mormons, and wife-pimps.
http://www.facebook.com/andrew.sappington Andrew Sappington

You forgot to mention that she is one of Rubio’s favorite artists.
AIiveStiIIKickin

You neglected to mention what that has to do with anything I posted.