Nicki Minaj was once again the victim of a swatting incident Wednesday night, April 9, as Los Angeles County deputies swarmed her Hidden Hills home over a completely false report. The global superstar was not even in town at the time of the hoax, raising growing concern over her repeated targeting and the safety risks surrounding these incidents.
Deputies Swarm Minaj’s Hidden Hills Residence After Bogus Call
According to reports from TMZ, law enforcement received a call around 7 PM via the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s business line, not even through 911, alleging that a Black woman had been shot at Nicki Minaj’s residence. The caller also claimed two people were still on the scene. Authorities treated the report as a serious emergency and responded in force.
However, when deputies arrived, they found the home completely empty. There was no emergency, no crime, no one in danger. Just another malicious swatting attempt aimed at the rapper. The authorities quickly determined the call was a hoax, but the implications remain deeply unsettling.
Nicki Was Not Home Or Even in the State
What makes this situation even more bizarre is the fact that Nicki Minaj and her family were not even on the West Coast during the incident. She was out of town, minding her business, yet still found herself at the center of a dangerous and disruptive event.
This marks at least the third time Minaj has been the victim of such a stunt, and fans are increasingly voicing their frustration over the ongoing harassment. Many are calling out the disturbing pattern of targeting Black public figures and using swatting as a tool of terror and intimidation.
A Pattern of Dangerous Pranks
This is not the first time Nicki’s home has been the subject of fake emergency calls. In July and August of 2023, law enforcement rushed to her residence after multiple false reports were phoned in. One caller alleged that someone had been shot at the home, and another shockingly claimed her child was being abused. All of these accusations turned out to be completely fabricated.
Those previous incidents resulted in an investigation that ultimately led to the identification of a suspect. In August 2023, law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for a woman named Stephanie Bell, believed to be responsible for at least one of the fake emergency calls targeting Minaj’s home.
Despite that arrest, the pattern has unfortunately continued, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of current enforcement and punishment surrounding swatting crimes.
Swatting is Not a Joke, It’s Deadly
Swatting is far from a harmless prank. It is a highly dangerous and illegal act that puts lives at risk. Not only are the targeted individuals endangered, but police officers responding to false emergencies may misinterpret situations, which can escalate quickly and violently.
In a tragic and recent example, rapper Young Scooter died in a swatting-related incident in Atlanta. After a false call sent police to a home, Scooter attempted to flee the scene and suffered fatal injuries while trying to jump a fence. The woman who made that fake call is now facing serious criminal charges.
The parallels to what is happening to Nicki Minaj are undeniable and chilling. These pranks are not just disruptive. They are potential setups for tragedy.
Fans and Public Figures Demand Accountability
Fans of Nicki Minaj, often referred to as the Barbz, have taken to social media to demand justice and protection for their queen. Many are expressing disappointment that swatting is still being used as a weapon against celebrities, especially Black entertainers who already face disproportionate levels of harassment online and in real life.
Calls are growing louder for stricter consequences for swatting offenders, as well as for better systems of verification before police are deployed en masse to a residential address. The use of emergency resources for false reports also wastes valuable time that could be spent responding to real crises.
Leave Nicki Alone
At this point, one thing is clear. Nicki Minaj deserves peace, safety, and the ability to live her life without being the repeated target of dangerous hoaxes. The fact that someone would go to such lengths to send armed officers to her home, knowing full well she was not even there, is beyond disturbing. This is not a prank. This is not funny. This is harassment.
It is time for law enforcement and lawmakers to treat these incidents with the seriousness they demand. If this trend continues unchecked, the consequences could be devastating.
Stop playing with Onika Tanya Maraj. Enough is enough.
