Nicki Minaj and SZA’s online clash leaves fans asking what really started the feud

A social media clash between two powerhouse artists lit up timelines this week as tensions unexpectedly surfaced between SZA and Nicki Minaj.

It all began when Nicki Minaj launched a series of online attacks aimed at Top Dawg Entertainment and its president, Punch. In one tweet, the “Super Bass” hitmaker accused the executive of harassment, writing:

“Lol. Yall remember that man from tde who kept bullying me on Twitter for no reason? We have the receipts. Lol. I never even responded to him. What was his name again, yall? Im going to give him a nickname. Ima call him ‘Minus 30 million’ from now on. #JusticeForDemoree.”

She followed with a photo of Punch and a pointed caption:

“Me after I suck some good zik.”

Then dhe also added:

“Guarantee you wouldn’t fight a man. We have every tweet of your incessant bullying, lying, & more. Your name was added to that sht list shtty drawers. Same thing that make you laugh make you…sh**.”

The rapper also accused Punch of retaliating after a failed business proposal, stating:

“So glad I have proof of being bullied by AND being lied on by a man PUBLICLY, on a platform I use for my JOB; after I rejected his business proposition on more than one occasion.”

She claimed he deliberately misled the public and attempted to damage her career:

“He failed to disclose to the public that I had rejected his business propositions— and thereby acted in what appears to be retaliation purposefully used to cause financial damages & to engage in a smear campaign against the brand.”

Though no clear context was given for the sudden criticism, the timing follows renewed scrutiny of TDE in the wake of a January lawsuit involving serious allegations by two anonymous women.

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SZA’s chill “mercury retrograde” tweet ignites unexpected clapback from Nicki Minaj

While SZA didn’t initially address Nicki Minaj directly, she did share a cryptic tweet amid the “Pound the Alarm” singer’s social media rant:

“Mercury retrograde .. don’t take the bait lol silly goose.”

That comment appeared to strike a tender nerve, and Nicki Minaj shot back with:

“Go draw your freckles back on bookie... Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a fkng dead dog...”

SZA then responded more directly, writing:

“I don’t give a f*** bout none of that weird s*** you popping...”

Nicki Minaj continued the back-and-forth with another insult:

“B**ch looking & sounding like she got stung by a fucking bee. dot dot dot Draws on my fake freckles.”

After fans flooded the “Saturn” singer’s mentions, she clarified her original tweet wasn’t directed at anyone specifically.

“I wasn’t even talking about or to anyone I had just got off stage talkin bout retrograde . N****S @‘d ME . The F*** YES IM MAD NOW DO YOU NEED THAT !??”

In the end, SZA just chose to laugh it off, posting on X with a message to her fans:

“Lmao lemme go back to being calm shy and meek . Yall have blessed night ! See you tomorrow for night 2 Paris !!”

The unexpected feud adds to a growing list of public disputes involving Nicki Minaj this year, such as her X tirades against Megan Thee Stallion and Roc Nation weeks prior.

Whether this new one escalates further remains to be seen.