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    Nicki Minaj Angers Catholic League With Grammys "Exorcism"

    Nicki Minaj is known for her over-the-top stage persona, but her performance at Sunday's 54th Annual Grammy Awards took things to a whole new level.

    Wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress, the 29-year-old shocked viewers when she performed her new song "Roman Holiday" for the very first time. Channeling her alter ego Roman Zolanski, Minaj's performance pushed religious boundaries.

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    "I had this vision for Roman for him to be sort of exorcised," she explained on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Monday. "People around him tell him he's not good enough because he's not normal and he's not blending in with the Average Joe."

    The Grammy nominee's performance included a Catholic confessional, demonic possession, dancing monks and a levitation scene.

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    "The people around him are afraid because they've never seen anything like him. He wanted to show that not only is he amazing . . . but he's never going to change. He's never going to be exorcised," Minaj said. "Even when they throw the holy water on him, he still rises above."

    The rapper's performance angered the the right-wing Catholic League, who issued a press release condemning it Monday. "Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question," president Bill Donohue said, "but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."

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    "It's bad enough that Catholics have to fight for their rights vis-a-vis a hostile administration in Washington without also having to fend off attacks in the entertainment industry," Donohue seethed. "The net effect, however, will only embolden Catholics, as well as their friends in other faith communities."

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    Minaj, meanwhile, stands behind her elaborate stage show. "It's the most comfortable I've ever been onstage in my entire life," she said.

    Tell Us: Did you find Nicki Minaj's "Roman Holiday" performance offensive?

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    62 comments

    • JP  •  3 months ago
      Nicki Minaj doesn't have ONE CREATIVE UNIQUE bone in her body...not only is she ripping off Gaga and Lil Kim, but "Roman Zolanski????" Really? TACKY.
      • riffypeat 3 months ago
        And Gaga's busy ripping off Madonna.
    • Books and Beyond  •  Bridgeport, Connecticut  •  3 months ago
      It was not offensive, it sucked. I am shocked she did not do something better she has it in her so why that train wreck?
      • Dr. GIGA 3 months ago
        It was offensive because it sucked! It is a shame we went from the Beetles to this!
    • James  •  Columbus, Ohio  •  3 months ago
      As a Catholic, I am shocked and offended that CBS would air this blatant mockery of Catholicism! It is also a total cultural double standard that our world would go ballistic if she had mocked Judaism or Islam but Catholics are fair game to mock and discriminate against!
      • A Yahoo! user 3 months ago
        I totally agree!
      • Dr. GIGA 3 months ago
        Everyone just does what they want these days. It's like we don't even need to go to school anymore! Just be a goofball, and make millions! Hollywood has always been a joke since the 90s!
    • bart  •  Toronto, Canada  •  3 months ago
      Remember Senead O'Connor or whoever she is? When she tore the Pope's picture, her popularity went tumbling way way down the bottom. People who dont have talent create controversy to be noticed. Same thing will happen to u Nikki who?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Ottawa, Canada  •  3 months ago
      Nikki Minaj's performance was tacky and idiotic. I think the Catholic Church should just ignore her....she's not worth stooping down to.
    • hughtrafalgar  •  3 months ago
      Minaj stated that if she didn't become famous, she'd kill herself. We're waiting.
    • Gemini Geisha  •  Kingston, Jamaica  •  3 months ago
      Sometimes I have to wonder if these people possess a mirror or an honest stylist...
    • kitten  •  3 months ago
      Honestly, I thought she was Red Riding Hood on the red carpet. This will blow over.
    • Robert  •  3 months ago
      Could it be that I appreciate the late Whitney Houston even more after the Grammys? As a performer she let her voice do the talking, without the gimmicks of Minaj, Gaga and Katy Perry.
    • Jason Sheffield  •  3 months ago
      who cares about the catholic league! This fool offends everyone with EYES and EARS. She's a trainwreck and that "song" should be the last thing it ever performs in public. Just toss it in with the KarTrashians - they don't have any talent either.
    • Hot 501s  •  3 months ago
      Any religion that still frets about devils and possession merits all the satire and mockery it can get. What is this, the Dark Ages? Whether Nicki Minaj's performance was good or not is another issue.
    • Tracy  •  Kernersville, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      She is a tastless, no talent entertainer. The more people talk about her and buy her music she will never become what she truly is, irrelevant!
    • Fry  •  3 months ago
      Mithras is angry
    • Melissa S  •  Jacksonville, Florida  •  3 months ago
      I just thought it was a poor performance for the Grammy's. It showed no class and it mocked a religion in which she probably doesn't practice. I liked her prior, after this I can care less what she does. To go to that extreme to get attention is wacky. Enough of the Circus, Gaga, Minage and Perry.
    • journeygirl9508  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      Don't get what the talent is with this chick.
    • Mary  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  3 months ago
      Wow seriously? That's what she was trying to perform? Cudos to the Catholic Church for figuring that one out for me and a lot of others. The performance sucked big time and maybe those who put the performances out there for us to see, should at the very least check it out before it hits the air!
    • Gifts and C  •  San Jose, California  •  3 months ago
      These alter egos are irresponsible methods to expose evil to the public. Whenever you find yourself asking "Why did they do that?!!" you better believe there is more to it. Watch your kids as they are the ones most impacted.
    • tony  •  Cicero, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Total crap. The music industry is really in bad shape if they fell this scrub is worth recording.
    • coletteandderek  •  Clarington, Canada  •  3 months ago
      Um hello the publicity is working which is exactly why she did it. Biggest music stage in the world, the whole world watching = a tonne of publicity negative or not we are talking about her!
    • becca  •  3 months ago
      My ears started to bleed from all the screeching. Had to turn away before the desire to throw something at the TV kicked in.

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