Both Dr. Anthony Fauci and the health minister for Trinidad and Tobago have now weighed in on that infamous Nicki Minaj tweet. And it's not looking good for Minaj's cousin's story.
On Monday, the singer tweeted about the Met Gala's requirement that attendees must be vaccinated against COVID to attend. Then she shared a truly strange personal anecdote that instantly went viral, for obvious reasons.
"My cousin in Trinidad won't get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent," Minaj tweeted. "His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding."
My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2021
But whether or not Minaj's cousin's friend really told this story, he didn't develop impotence from receiving the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccines don't cause impotence, though getting the coronavirus can.
First, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, told Jake Tapper on CNN that the vaccines don't cause "any reproductive issues" in recipients.
"The answer to that, Jake, is a resounding 'No,'" Fauci said.
"The answer to that, Jake, is a resounding no" -- asked about Nicki Minaj's tweet regarding her cousin's friend's balls, Dr. Fauci says there's no evidence the Covid vaccines cause reproductive issues pic.twitter.com/2wuqy14fDi
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 14, 2021
Later in the week, Trinidad and Tobago health minister Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh wearily spoke publicly about how the country investigated Minaj's cousin's claim, and found it to be false.
"Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim," Deyalsingh said in a video shared on Twitter on Wednesday. "As we stand now, there is absolutely no reported such side effect or adverse event of testicular swelling in Trinidad or, I dare say ... anywhere else in the world."
#BREAKING - Trinidad & Tobago Health Minister Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh responds to swollen testicle claim made by Trinidad-born entertainer @NICKIMINAJ; says there is no such reported case in Trinidad & Tobago (TTT) pic.twitter.com/NNsc9EUTKP
— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) September 15, 2021
Minaj herself has been tweeting steadily since the infamous tweet.
One tweet she sent on Tuesday read, "Omfg. My #cousin who has #TheFriend just texted me telling me to call him. *Bites Nails* Ugh! You idiots!!! If he saw this on the news it's all your fault!!! It was supposed to be a secret. If either of them ask, u ain't heard it from me. Okay? stares @ text."
Omfg. My #cousin who has #TheFriend just texted me telling me to call him. *Bites Nails* Ugh! You idiots!!! If he saw this on the news it’s all your fault!!! It was supposed to be a secret 🤐🥴😫.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 14, 2021
If either of them ask, u ain’t heard it from me. Okay?
*stares @ text
😭😂
And after talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel said on his show that he wanted to interview Minaj's cousin's friend, she responded positively.
"He's willing to talk for the right price," Minaj tweeted. "I'm his manager. Call me, Jimmy."
He’s willing to talk for the right price. I’m his manager. Call me, Jimmy 📱 https://t.co/1ZnnUZPPNZ
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 15, 2021