Nicki Minaj Apologizes for Nazi Symbolism in ‘Only’ Video

Nicki Minaj has apologized for causing offence with her new music promo ONLY, which Anti-Defamation League (ADL) officials blasted for its alleged use of Nazi symbolism.

The ADL’s national director Abraham H. Foxman condemned the video for being “insensitive to Holocaust survivors” by using imagery similar to Nazi propaganda, which he called “deeply disturbing and offensive to Jews”.

Minaj has now responded to the criticim, claiming the parallels are unintentional, but insisting she is sorry for any offense caused by the animated promo, which was released on Friday.

She writes on Twitter, “The artist who made the lyric video for Only was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called Metalocalypse’ & Sin City… Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish… I didn’t come up w/ (with) the concept, but I’m very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I’d never condone Nazism in my art.”

The artist who made the lyric video for “Only” was influenced by a cartoon on Cartoon Network called "Metalocalypse" & Sin City.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

I didn't come up w/the concept, but I'm very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone. I'd never condone Nazism in my art.

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) November 11, 2014

The director of the video has since spoken out, but don’t expect him to be issuing any apologies anytime soon.

“Only” director and visual artist Jeff Osborne has now broken his silence, admitting he used Nazi symbolism in a small part of the video, but only to educate younger fans as part of a broader political statement.

In a message posted on Myspace, he writes:

“First, I’m not apologizing for my work, nor will I dodge the immediate question. The flags, armbands, and gas mask (and perhaps my use of symmetry?) are all representative of Nazism.

“But a majority of the recognizable models/symbols are American: …SWAT uniform, General’s uniform, the Supreme court, and the Lincoln Memorial. What’s also American is the 1st Amendment (freedom of speech), which I’ve unexpectedly succeeded in showing how we willfully (sic) squeeze ourselves out of that right every day…

“As far as an explanation, I think its (sic) actually important to remind younger generations of atrocities that occurred in the past as a way to prevent them from happening in the future. And the most effective way of connecting with people today is through social media and pop culture. So if my work is misinterpreted because it’s not a sappy tearjerker, sorry I’m not sorry. What else is trending?”

Photo Credit:Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com