Nicki Minaj’s “Only” Director Isn’t Backing Down: “I’m Not Apologizing For My Work”

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

Young Money rapper Nicki Minaj's "Only" director has come forward to speak out on the controversy their music video has created this week.

Nicki Minaj
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Despite Minaj’s open apology, director Jeff Osbourne issued a statement and said he wouldn’t back down.

“Before I start, be clear that these are my personal views and not the views of Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, or Young Money. 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: MQ9 Reaper Drone, F22 Raptor, Sidewinder missile, security cameras, M60, SWAT uniform, General’s uniform, the Supreme court, and the Lincoln Memorial. What’s also American is the 1st Amendment, which I’ve unexpectedly succeeded in showing how we willfully squeeze ourselves out of that right every day.” (MySpace)

Check out the rest of Osbourne’s statement right here…

Osbourne also said he took responsiblity for the messages embedded in the visual.

“Despite the fact heavy religious and economic themes were glossed over, there’s also Russian T-90 tanks, Belgian FN FAL, German mp5 (not manufactured until 1966), an Italian Ferrari, and a Vatican Pope. As far as an explanation, I think its 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?” (MySpace)

Nicki said she had nothing to do with the visual’s concept earlier in the day.

Buzz about the backlash her cartoon-based clip had received bubbled online Monday (November 10).

Rapper Nicki Minaj is under fire for her alleged use of Nazi imagery in an official lyric video for her new single “Only,” featuring Lil Wayne and Drake, who is half Jewish. The video is a black and white animated comic with red accents, featuring a cartoon Minaj as a reigning dictator, Chris Brown as a military leader, Drake as a religious leader and Lil Wayne as a business mogul. (Philly)

The Anti-Defamation League had taken specific aim at Nicki over the clip.

“Nicki Minaj’s new video disturbingly evokes Third Reich propaganda and constitutes a new low for pop culture’s exploitation of Nazi symbolism,” Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a Holocaust survivor, told FOX411 in a statement. “The irony should be lost on no one that this video debuted on the 76th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the ‘night of broken glass’ pogrom that signaled the beginning of the Final Solution and the Holocaust.” (Fox News)

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Written by Cyrus Langhorne

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