But no, not everyone was cool with her performing in Angola.
Nicki Minaj, the one true queen of rap, on Saturday joined a depressingly long list of celebrities who when faced with criticism for performing in a country with human rights abuses responded with "¯\_(ツ)_/¯"
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images
The country in question is the southwest African country of Angola. Its president, José Eduardo dos Santos, has been in power since three years before Minaj was born; the last election in the country was 1992.
The concert, held in the 12,000-capacity Coqueiros Stadium, was sponsored by telecommunications company Unitel. In a weird coincidence, Unitel just happens to be controlled by Isabella dos Santos, the president's daughter, who Nicki took a picture with.
A 2013 article from Forbes, accused Santos — who is worth more than $3 billion — of building her wealth on government kickbacks, being written into deals with foreign companies wishing to work in Angola, and other corruption. Just this year, Transparency International listed her as one of 15 individuals who represent "grand corruption."
Before the concert, the Human Rights Foundation attempted to get Minaj to cancel the show, writing an open letter to her listing the numerous rights abuses that Angola has carried out, including a massacre of civilians this year.
In the letter, HRF president Thor Halvorssen suggested that Minaj would be receiving $2 million for the performance. BuzzFeed News was unable to reach Minaj's manger at the Blueprint Group to confirm this number.
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