Nicki Minaj is going to be a mom.
The New York rap veteran announced her pregnancy on Monday with a photograph of herself rocking her baby bump with a simple caption: “#Preggers.”
“Love. Marriage. Baby carriage. Overflowing with excitement & gratitude. Thank you all for the well wishes,” Minaj captioned with another photo.
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The 37-year-old rapper has long made it known that she was ready to settle down and start a family after going public with her relationship to childhood friend Kenneth Petty, whom she married in August 2019.
Minaj’s fans had been speculating about her pregnancy for months after she tweeted about having food cravings when asked what she’s been cooking during quarantine.
“Absolutely. Steak. Shrimp. Plus my famous cheeseburgers. So good. Been rlly having red meat cravings then salad cravings with extra jalapeños. Ordered Chkn nachos that didn’t come w/jalapeños. Who does that? Wow,” she tweeted on May 7.
She continued, “Lmao. No throwing up. But nausea and peeing non stop. Omg what do u think this means guys???? Lmaooooooooooo”
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In 2018, Minaj said in an interview with Wonderland magazine that she was eager to have children.
“I’ve got to get married first then I’ll have a child. I might be closer than people think actually,” she said. “I love children. I’m not going to put that off for much longer.”
However, her husband’s past had overshadowed her love story after making headlines over the past year for his criminal rap sheet, which includes the sexual assault of a teen girl in 1994 and fatally shooting a man.
Petty, 41, was convicted of attempted first-degree rape in April 1995 and served nearly four years in prison, according to USA Today. He was arrested earlier this year after failing to register as a sex offender in California.
Minaj’s pregnancy announcement was quickly met with praise from friends and fans alike.
“BEAUTIFUL FRIEND!!!” commented gospel singer Tasha Cobbs, whom Minaj collaborated with on Cobb’s song, “I’m Getting Ready.”
Actress Halle Berry wrote, “YES Congratulations beauty!!!!”
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