Nicki Minaj personally picked Whoopi Goldberg to star in her new ABC Family series

On Friday, ABC Family announced the casting for its new scripted series about Nicki Minaj, and it looks like Minaj is tickled pink about the casting choices.

TheGrio Staff

Dec 19, 2015

On Friday, ABC Family announced the casting for its new scripted series about Nicki Minaj, and it looks like Minaj is tickled pink about the casting choices.

The big names in the series include Selita Ebanks, who will play Minaj’s mother, as well as Whoopi Goldberg, who is cast to play Minaj’s nosy neighbor, Martha.

“I am honored and excited to announce that I’ve literally hand picked the main characters of my scripted series “Nicki” ~ #ABCFamily #Freeform ~ I’ve been going to the auditions falling in love with some incredible people. Looking forward to unveiling this groundbreaking new show for you guys in 2016!” Minaj wrote on Instagram.

Minaj also gushed about Ariana Neal, who will be portraying Minaj in the show.

“I literally cried watching her taped audition,” Nicki wrote on Instagram as she congratulated Neal on the casting. She went on to add, “I demanded to meet her! Sat in a room with her teaching her how to rap by doing a beat on the table & forcing her to stay on beat! Lol. Then pulled out all the attitude she had in her lil body. Haha! She’s tough! And so sweet & cute.”

It sounds like Minaj is more than a little excited about this project!