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American rapper Nicki Minaj dished up a splendid performance on Thursday night – in spite of the lip-synching, lack of costume changes and refusing to do a “meet-and-greet” with fans who’d paid thousands of rands to see her up close.
Minaj’s Pinkprint Tour kicked off when she performed in front of thousands of screaming fans at the Ticketpro Dome in Jozi.
But not all her fans were thrilled with the Trinidad and Tobago-born star’s performance. Some felt they had been cheated and betrayed by their idol after she lip-synched some of her songs.
Dressed in a waist-cinching, figure-hugging gold-tassel jumpsuit that showed off her booty to perfection, she involved her fans in her show. But she looked surprised when the crowd sang along to all her hits.
“I cannot believe that South Africa knows all of my songs!” she told the crowd, which, like the lip-synching, did not go down well.
A fan standing in the Golden Circle shouted: “What does Nicki take us for? I bought a ticket to watch her because I know her music. Miming is disrespectful. It is sad that we buy expensive tickets to support these international artists and they come here to undermine us.”
More than 15 fans, who paid at least R3 000 each for the privilege, waited patiently to meet the rapper backstage to do a “meet-and-greet” with her, but a few minutes later, disappointment was written all over their faces.
An aloof Minaj said: “I’m very sorry for keeping you all waiting‚ but I want you to know that I never approved any meet-and-greet.
“I don’t do meet-and-greets after a show. I was literally about to leave. These people lied to you – please get your money back‚” she said.
But she couldn’t leave them stranded, she said, and took a group picture with them.
Total Exposure managing director Diane Chidrawi told City Press on Friday that the fans had been fully refunded. Asked what Minaj had wanted backstage, Chidrawi said the matter was confidential.
“But we can confirm that it is in line with a superstar of her status,” said Chidrawi.
Her previous demands have included pink or white roses, candles that smell like baked goods, packs of lozenges, hot tea, a fruit platter, cucumber salad, egg whites and 12-piece buckets of spicy chicken – wings, no thighs.
Fans were not impressed with Minaj’s outfit. Fuming concertgoer Taylor Lombard said: “She is such a diva of note and performing with one outfit for almost two hours was a big no. It was not even one of the utmost outfits — she is taking us for a ride.”
Nevertheless, Minaj picked out a great selection of songs and revellers sang along nonstop to hits including Anaconda, Pills N Potions‚ Super Bass and her final number, Starships. Her hit Save Me was sung kneeling down.
The lyrics changed to: “Johannesburg, won’t you save me?”
She told the crowd: “South Africa, you mean the world to me. I am deeply in love with you. Can’t thank you enough for tonight.”
Friday night’s show was more of a success. Three fans told City Press that they were thrilled by her performance, and she had lip-synched only towards the end. She also took pictures with her fans. Minaj will perform in Durban today.
