‘Another Papa Bear Baking?’: Nicki Minaj’s Fans Claim the Rapper May be Pregnant Following a Recent Performance

Nicki Minaj‘s fans are speculating that the rapper may be keeping a secret after viewing her recent performance at the Essence Festival. 

The event, which started on June 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was slated to end on July 3, was the first in-person festival following the 2020 cancellation stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Minaj performed on July 1 as the headlining act. 

Another Papa Bear Baking?': Nicki Minaj's Fans Claim the Rapper May be Pregnant Following a Recent Performance
Nicki Minaj sparked pregnancy rumors following her recent performance at the Essence festival. (Photo: @nickiminaj/Instagram)

During her set, the rapper performed several of her hit songs. The list includes “Do We Have a Problem?,” “We Go Up,” “Did It On ’em,” “Beez in the Trap,” “Feeling Myself,” “Anaconda,” “Itty Bitty Piggy,” “Moment 4 Life” and etc.

Minaj also brought many surprise guests, such as Lil Baby, Birdman, and Lil Wayne. Many noticed her visibly fuller appearance throughout her performance, especially Minaj’s “We Go Up” number.

As the clips circulated online, fans immediately wondered if the 39-year-old is expecting her second child with her husband, Kenny Petty. Minaj and Petty share a 1-year-old son nicknamed Papa Bear. 

“Big mama is definitely pregnant and not bloated.”

“Wait is Nicki pregnant.”

“Stomach bump plus lack of usual energy = very much pregnant…she’ll reveal by the end of the month.”

“So we gon act like we don’t see her pregnant ???”

“Another papa bear baking?”

Another Papa Bear Baking?': Nicki Minaj's Fans Claim the Rapper May be Pregnant Following a Recent Performance
Nicki Minaj photographed with her husband Kenny Petty and their son nicknamed Papa Bear. (Photo: @nickiminaj/Instagram)

Among the pregnancy remarks, others mentioned Minaj’s upcoming projects, including her new album and documentary. The reason behind those comments was because social media users feared that Minaj’s possible pregnancy could delay the projects’ release date.

One wrote, “She better drop the album and doc before the baby.” Another said, “If she is pregnant, we are not getting the album until next year.”

Despite the frenzy, Minaj has yet to respond to the rumors.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top