Newsom comms director calls Nicki Minaj ‘Stupid H*e’ after rapper slams trans agenda

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; California Gov. Gavin Newsom sparked fresh controversy over the weekend after rapper Nicki Minaj launched a blistering social media attack against the Democrat and his stance on transgender issues, setting off a public feud that quickly escalated.

The 12-time Grammy nominee went after Newsom in a series of posts shared Friday, December 13, reacting to remarks the governor recently made to New York Times columnist Ezra Klein. During that conversation, Newsom said he wanted to “see trans kids” and reiterated his support for legislation protecting transgender youth.

Minaj seized on the phrasing, mocking Newsom’s comments and questioning his political priorities as speculation continues about his national ambitions.

Nicki Minaj unloads on Gavin Newsom

“Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids,” Minaj wrote. “Not even a trans ADULT would run on that. Normal adults wake up & think they want to see HEALTHY, SAFE, HAPPY kids. Not Gav. The Gav Nots. GavOUT. Send in the next guy, I’m bored.”

She followed up with additional posts predicting political trouble for the California governor and offering unsolicited lifestyle advice.

“Oh Gavvy pooh, it only gets worse from here for you, buddy. It’s the end of the road for you, my love,” she wrote. “Get on the nearest jet ski & let that beautiful hair blow in the wind. It will make you happier than this race that you will not win. Enjoy life. Peace.”

Minutes later, Minaj continued her commentary, turning her focus to Newsom’s public image.

“Gavin is the cute boy who got everything handed to him b/c of how cute & sexy & hot & smoking he was,” she wrote. “Oohhh look @‘m. Sitting there in that suit with the sneakers on. He thinks he’s Tom Cruise. Only difference is, his next mission IS impossible. He should get another leading role.”

Minaj continued posting about Newsom throughout Friday and Saturday, frequently pairing her remarks with images of the Chucky doll from Child’s Play, a visual she has used in previous political critiques.

Izzy Gardon responds to Nicki Minaj

By Saturday, Newsom’s director of communications, Izzy Gardon, appeared to weigh in publicly on the escalating spat.

Gardon shared an image on X showing a T-shirt featuring Minaj’s name and face tossed into a trash bag.

“Stupid H*e,” Gardon wrote in the caption.

The post quickly sparked backlash, with critics accusing Gardon of directing a slur at a Black woman. Among those condemning the remark was California Republican state Rep. Carl DeMaio, who called the comment inappropriate for a senior state official.

Gardon pushed back, insisting critics were missing the reference.

“Any certified homosexual would know ‘Stupid H*e’ is Nicki Minaj’s best song,” Gardon wrote. “We may need to take your gay card away, Carl. Your infractions are becoming insufferable."

“Stupid H*e,” also known as “Stupid Stupid,” was released by Minaj in 2011 and became one of her most talked-about tracks at the time.

Nicki Minaj escalates criticism of Newsom

While Minaj did not directly reply to Gardon’s post, she accused Newsom’s team of fixating on her instead of focusing on governing California.

“Career politician at the brink of his moment realigns to become nothing more than a Nicki Minaj ANTI,” she wrote. “So now he’s the guy running on ‘wanting to see trans kids’ AND willing to lower himself to becoming just another FEMALE RAPPER to get obliterated by NICKI MINAJ.”

In a separate post, Minaj suggested Newsom was being pushed toward political self-destruction.

“They’re ready to make a career politician with everything to lose throw it all away—just like they did to everyone else before him—just to go against me,” she wrote. “What’s wild is that he can’t see how this will end. I must be a pretty powerful gal. Praise God. It is well."

As of Sunday, Newsom himself had not publicly responded to Minaj’s remarks or to the backlash surrounding his communications director’s post.

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