Cyndi Lauper Stands By Nicki Minaj Collab Amid Political Divide

Cyndi Lauper stands by her collaboration with Nicki Minaj, stating she does not regret approving the sample for Minaj's song "Pink Friday Girls." Lauper, a longtime Democratic supporter, shared this stance when asked about the renewed attention on their 2024 collaboration due to Minaj's political views.

Lauper told The Guardian that she does not subscribe to "cancel culture." She believes that even with political disagreements, people should remain open to discussion. The pop icon highlighted that the reworked song's message about girls wanting to have fun and their right to joy remains paramount.

The collaboration extended beyond the studio. On May 1, 2024, Lauper made a surprise appearance at Brooklyn's Barclays Center during Minaj's Pink Friday 2 World Tour. They performed "Pink Friday Girls" together for the first time and also shared an a cappella rendition of Lauper's classic, "True Colors."

While acknowledging she doesn't closely follow Minaj's current activities, Lauper reiterated her opposition to exclusion. She feels that cancelling individuals leaves no space for dialogue. Lauper also recently commented to Billboard on the pressures artists face from corporate expectations, noting that creative work isn't like manufacturing a car, implying that past successes don't guarantee future identical results.