Nicki Minaj is not happy with this high fashion shoe designer — here’s all the drama
If you happened to scroll past the trending hashtag #GiuseppeWhatsGood yesterday without looking into it, allow us to catch you up on the details. Nicki Minaj is not happy with shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti and decided to take her complaints to social media.
According to The Pinkprint rapper’s tweets, the Italian designer named his shoe designs after Minaj, and once told her that she “inspired him to name a sneaker in her honor,” but has since refused to communicate with her. Minaj claims she was given the cold shoulder after her PR reps contacted Zanotti about collaborating on a capsule collection, an offer that the rapper says has been extended to other artists, most notably Jennifer Lopez and Zayn Malik.
"Dear @giuseppezanottidesign#RunMeMyCHECK your PR must've fell & bumped their head when they told my agency they weren't discussing anything with us," Minaj wrote on Instagram. "I'm giving you 24 hours. 😊 #GiuseppeWhatsGood 23 pairs of sneakers in my collection & they won't take a call?"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQDm5BBj6uo
Now, everyone knows that Minaj’s Barbz are quite the dedicated crew, so when she asked them to trend the topic, they went to work, happily fulfilling their supportive role in the Twitterverse and bringing us one of the most eye-catching trending topics we’ve seen in a while.
This is wonderful. #GiuseppeZanotti seems to think it's ok to name his sneakers after me but his PR says they won't take our call. Lol.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
I met #GiuseppeZanotti years ago. At which time, he told me I inspired him to design a sneaker in my honor. Wore them on the cover of Cosmo
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
Recently when he gave other artists capsule collections, my agency reached out and was told they're not taking our call. 🤔
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
Don't care about the money. It's just the disrespect. You're not taking MY call? Lol. Give some money to charity in my name or smthn. 🙏🏽
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
#RunMeMyCHECK #GiuseppeWhatsGood I got time today. 😊 barbz trend this cuz he gon learn today. The racism & disrespect won't b tolerated.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
After Minaj’s series of tweets, the hashtag #GiuseppeWhatsGood quickly became a worldwide trending topic. We’re not sure if the designer reached out to the rapper after the fact, but apparently Zanotti heard her complaints. Shortly afterwards, the “Nicki” shoe designs were no longer available on his site.
Giuseppe have taken all shoes named after @NICKIMINAJ off their site. Oohhhhh 👀👀👀👋🏽👋🏽 #GiuseppeWhatsGood pic.twitter.com/kdzcbZbHcO
— Sian🧚🏼♀️ (@siaanhaydenn) February 3, 2017
While we all sit back and watch the drama unfold on Twitter, Minaj also brought up some important points about the double standards women face when defending themselves, particularly in the face of unfair payment, or as she alleges, no payment at all.
Women are always shamed by other when speaking up in the work place. That's why women cont. to earn less. Jada spoke up & Oscars madeAchange
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
Scarlett spoke on her pay vs. her male co-stars & was shamed by other women as well. WakeUp! This is our work place! Just like u have yours!
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) February 3, 2017
Later, Minaj also invited the brand to donate money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital on her behalf. Other than removing the shoes from the brand’s website, neither Zanotti or his reps appear to have responded.
