Minaj Snubs BET Awards, Praises Musk's Free Speech

Nicki Minaj was notably absent from the 2026 BET Awards held on June 28th in Los Angeles. Despite her absence, the rapper's presence was felt as she posted a birthday message to Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter). In the message, Minaj thanked Musk for "saving free speech" and included a photo of them together.

This acknowledgment of Musk follows Minaj's recent surprise appearance at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. She was present during a livestream for a Starship program event in May, calling the moment "historic."

Minaj's absence from the BET Awards stands out due to her significant history with the ceremony. She holds the record as the most decorated female rapper in BET Awards history, with 13 wins. These include multiple Best Female Hip-Hop Artist awards. This year, Cardi B took home the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award, among a list of other nominees.