Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
There’s so much to hate about Nicki Minaj’s “Bigfoot.” Yes, it’s a terrible song where Minaj rhymes “foot” with “foot.” It’s a song where she spends what feels like 20 minutes talking like an evil Disney villainess who’s taken a break from chasing Dalmatian puppies. She also sounds like Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest” screaming, “No wire hangers ever!” But worse than the aesthetic mess she’s made with this song is this: In “Bigfoot,” Minaj repeatedly relies on misogyny to attack Megan Thee Stallion. It’s bizarre to me to hear a woman use sexism to attack another woman but as @travelingnurse said on TikTok, “Yes [rape] culture and the patriarchy are perpetrated by men but they are upheld and protected by women.” Let’s get into it.
Minaj’s big attack point in the song is to say Meg lied about the Tory Lanez incident. A jury heard her testimony and decided he was guilty so I’m not sure what room Minaj has to question Meg’s integrity. But when women speak up about domestic violence, men often challenge the woman’s credibility and try to destroy her reputation. That’s exactly what Minaj is trying to do in this song. Just like the patriarchy taught her to do.
Minaj also makes a big deal out of the idea that Meg will never be loved by a man, which, she suggests, is because Meg is tall for a woman, as opposed to the petite Minaj. This line of attack is body shaming as well as an attempt to reduce Meg’s worth to whether or not she can keep a man. It dismisses Meg’s numerous professional achievements and places her value solely on whether or not a man has validated her romantically. To judge Meg, or any woman, based on having a man is patriarchal culture. But Minaj is a soldier for the boys.
Minaj also spends a lot of the song trying to shame Meg over sleeping…
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