Additional Coverage:
- Nicki Minaj sent ‘running back into the building’ at Elon Musk’s second flight test attempt (themirror.com)
Rapper Nicki Minaj got a loud reminder last week in Texas about the importance of ear protection-always wear your earplugs.
The 43-year-old artist was on hand for SpaceX’s Starship flight test in South Texas, sporting a custom Starship graphic tee and clearly eager to witness the historic event. However, despite being advised to wear earplugs before the launch, Minaj dismissed the warning.
When the rocket engines roared to life, the noise overwhelmed her, and she quickly retreated inside a nearby building. She later shared the experience on X, writing, “When you were told to wear your ear plugs but you thought ‘eh, how loud could it really be?’ – only to end up running back into the building b/c it was too… ‘loud.'”
The launch itself was postponed on May 21 after a hydraulic pin holding a tower arm malfunctioned, with a new attempt scheduled for the following day. Despite the delay, Minaj’s enthusiasm remained high.
She appeared in footage from the event just minutes before the planned launch, chatting with SpaceX staff and joking, “I’ve launched. This is historic.
This is a major moment, y’all.” She also gave a shoutout to Elon Musk, thanking him for his contributions to humanity.
Online, fans found her earplug mishap amusing. Comments poured in, with one user noting, “Nothing teaches respect for decibel levels faster than immediate regret.”
Another wrote, “My ears are still mad at me for thinking I was stronger than the decibels. Lesson learned: always wear the earplugs.”
A third summed it up: “That moment when your confidence disappears immediately after the first BOOM. Suddenly the ear plugs start looking like the greatest invention in human history.”
The Starship rocket Minaj came to see is a crucial step in SpaceX’s plans to enable refueling in orbit, paving the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars. SpaceX had not launched from this South Texas site since October, dedicating months to preparing this upgraded version.
Aside from her space enthusiasm, Minaj has been vocal about her political views, notably expressing strong support for former President Donald Trump. She has described herself as “probably the president’s No. 1 fan” and has participated in events supporting him and the First Lady earlier this year.
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Minaj explained her willingness to speak out: “Many celebrities feel the way I do, but they don’t say it. Sometimes, you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact.
I think I am the catalyst for that change.”