Fact Check: Did Nicki Minaj follow Benjamin Netanyahu on social media?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In mid-March, a rumor circulated online claiming that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dead after there was a glitch in his press conference clip. The rumor was later debunked by his office, clarifying Netanyahu was fine.

Following this, social media users came up with another claim that pop icon Nicki Minaj started following Netanyahu on X. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Nicki Minaj followed Benjamin Netanyahu on X

Several X accounts shared posts claiming Nicki Minaj followed Benjamin Netanyahu on X. One user wrote, "Nicki Minaj has followed Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Twitter / X."

Similarly, another post read, "Nicki Minaj is now following Benjamin Netanyahu on X / Twitter," while another account wrote, "Nicki Minaj now follows the Prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu on Twitter."

Fact check: The claim is true and visual evidence proves it

The viral claim that Nicki Minaj followed Benjamin Netanyahu is true, as direct visual evidence proves it. A screenshot of Netanyahu’s official X profile (@netanyahu) shows the "Followed by Nicki Minaj" line with her profile picture at the bottom of the header section.

The section only appears for users who follow Nicki Minaj. The person who posted the screenshot clearly follows Nicki, which is how the indicator surfaced.

The profile in the screenshot matches Netanyahu’s verified account exactly as display name and Hebrew text, @netanyahu handle, and bio referencing his role as Prime Minister and Likud chairman. 

Moreover, the X account is active and authentic. It has been posting in Hebrew as recently as March 15, with high-engagement videos on Israeli political or military topics, and there are no signs of impersonation or parody.

This happened very recently which is why there’s no mainstream news coverage so far, and only the same screenshot circulating on pop-culture gossip accounts like @ThePopFlop.

Netanyahu's office clarifies that the Israeli PM is fine 

On March 14, Benjamin Netanyahu's office dismissed viral claims suggesting that the Israeli Prime Minister had been killed amid the escalating conflict involving Israel, US and Iran.

The officer responded to a query from Turkey-based Anadolu Agency about the reports circulating online and denied the claims outright. "These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine," the office said.

Interestingly, the online rumors emerged amid sharply escalating hostilities in the region. Israel and the US launched joint strikes against Iran on February 28, killing Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that led to a full-fledged war.