Honestly, if you were anywhere near a screen in August 2015, you probably remember where you were when the air physically left the room at the MTV Video Music Awards. It wasn't just a "pop star spat." It was a tectonic shift in how we talk about celebrity, race, and the "politeness" expected of women in the spotlight. When Nicki Minaj looked dead into the camera and uttered those three words—"Miley, what’s good?"—she didn't just start a meme. She ignited a decade-long conversation about who gets to speak and how they're allowed to say it.
For years, people have debated whether that moment was scripted. It wasn't. Sources backstage at the time described Miley Cyrus as being genuinely rattled, "cursing and yelling" as she headed toward her dressing room. But to understand why Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus reached that boiling point, you have to look past the stage and into a New York Times interview that basically served as the matches for the fire.
The Interview That Started the War
Before the 2015 VMAs even began, the tension was already thick. Nicki had been vocal on Twitter about the "Anaconda" snub for Video of the Year. She pointed out a very real, very uncomfortable truth: the industry consistently rewards a specific aesthetic—usually slim, often white—while ignoring the massive cultural impact of Black women.
Taylor Swift famously jumped in, thinking the tweet was about her (it wasn't), and they eventually made up. But Miley? She decided to weigh in during an interview with the New York Times just days before she was set to host the show.
Instead of engaging with Nicki’s point about institutional bias, Miley called her "not too kind" and "not very polite." She suggested Nicki was just being "jealous" and that her approach was wrong. Basically, she told a Black woman how she should feel about her own exclusion.
💡 You might also like: Ceslie Ann Kamakawiwo'ole: What Really Happened to Bruddah Iz's Daughter
Nicki’s response on stage wasn't just about a "bitch" in the press. It was a direct confrontation of that tone-policing. When she called Miley out, she was essentially saying: If you want to use our culture, you have to respect our voices.
Why the Beef Didn't End in 2015
You might think that after a decade, things would have cooled off. Not exactly. While they aren't exactly throwing hands in the street, the "Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus" dynamic has remained frosty at best and explosive at worst.
- The "Cattitude" Incident (2019): Miley released a song with the lyric, "I love you Nicki, but I listen to Cardi." Now, Miley claimed this was just about enjoying both artists, but given the well-documented history between Nicki and Cardi B, it felt like a deliberate poke at a sore spot.
- The "Perdue Chicken" Rant: Nicki didn't take that lyric sitting down. On an episode of Queen Radio, she went off. She didn't hold back, calling Miley a "Perdue chicken" and accusing her of disrespecting her for years. She even brought up old studio stories, making it clear that the resentment ran much deeper than a single award show moment.
- The Cultural Appropriation Debate: This is the core of the issue that most people get wrong. It’s not just about two women not liking each other. It’s about the fact that Miley’s "Bangerz" era was heavily built on hip-hop aesthetics—twerking, grillz, and Black backup dancers. Nicki’s frustration stemmed from seeing Miley profit from a culture she then criticized for being "angry" or "impolite."
Misconceptions: Staged or Real?
Let’s be real for a second. In the world of PR, "feuds" are often manufactured to sell records. But this one feels different. If you watch the raw footage from the VMAs—not the edited version, but the fan cams—you can see Nicki continuing to vent even after her mic was cut. She was genuinely angry.
👉 See also: Who's Aaron Rodgers Married To: What Most People Get Wrong
And Miley? Her response on stage, "We all know how they manipulate shit," was a classic "I was misquoted" defense. But the Times reporter, Vanessa Grigoriadis, later stood by the interview. There wasn't much room for manipulation; Miley’s words were pretty clear. She didn't think Nicki handled herself well, and Nicki didn't think Miley had the right to judge her.
What Most People Get Wrong
People love to frame this as a "catfight." That’s a lazy narrative. When you look at the timeline of Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, it’s actually a case study in the "White Moderate" vs. the "Angry Black Woman" trope.
Miley’s defense was centered on "love and light" and "positivity." She used a yoga mantra to dismiss Nicki's valid complaints about systemic racism. By doing that, she positioned herself as the "reasonable" one and Nicki as the "aggressor."
The reality is that Nicki was advocating for herself and other Black creators. Miley was protecting the status quo of the institution she was hosting for. That's a massive power imbalance that often gets ignored in the gossip columns.
Where Do They Stand Now?
In recent years, the two have mostly stayed out of each other's way. Miley has shifted her sound again—moving into rock and "plastic hearts" territory—effectively shedding the hip-hop persona she adopted in the early 2010s. Nicki has continued to dominate the rap game, occasionally referencing her past battles but focusing more on her "Pink Friday 2" era.
There’s no sign of a "Taylor Swift-style" reconciliation on the horizon. Don't expect a joint performance or a friendly selfie anytime soon. They exist in two very different lanes of the industry now, and the scars from 2015 are likely permanent.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you're following these types of celebrity interactions, it's worth looking at the subtext. Here’s how to parse the noise next time a "feud" breaks out:
- Check the Source: Before assuming a quote is "shade," look at the full interview context. Reporters often ask leading questions to get a viral response.
- Analyze the Power Dynamic: Is one artist speaking from a place of marginalized experience while the other is defending the "way things are"? This usually dictates the tone of the conflict.
- Ignore the "Catfight" Label: This term is almost exclusively used to diminish the actual arguments women are having. Ask what the disagreement is actually about—usually, it's business, respect, or creative credit.
- Watch the "Pivot": Notice when an artist uses a certain culture for a "phase" and then abandons it. This is often the root of long-term industry resentment.
The saga of Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus isn't just a piece of 2010s nostalgia. It’s a reminder that the "polite" way of speaking is often a luxury afforded to those whom the system already favors. When Nicki asked "what's good," she was asking the whole industry to look in the mirror.
To stay updated on these dynamics, keep an eye on how artists discuss award show nominations during the upcoming season. The same patterns of representation and "decorum" often repeat, showing that while the players change, the game mostly stays the same.