This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
On September 5, 2019, Nicki Minaj shocked her fans by announcing her retirement from music to start a family. The 36-year-old rapper made the surprise announcement on Twitter.
She tweeted: 'I've decided to retire & have my family. I know you guys are happy now. To my fans, keep reppin me, do it til da death of me. In the box- cuz ain't nobody checkin me. Love you for LIFE.'
Minaj's decision comes after she dropped a massive hint that she'd secretly been married. She had been dating Kenneth Petty and changed her Twitter name to 'Mrs. Petty' last month.
Minaj, who has been busy working on her album, said that she'll be holding off on having a 'big wedding' until after the record is finished, but would have a smaller ceremony for now.
However, Minaj's decision to settle down with Petty has raised eyebrows due to his troubled past. According to multiple reports in the US, Petty is a registered sex offender and was also convicted for manslaughter and attempted rape.
Court records in the US, obtained by TMZ, show that Petty was convicted of first-degree attempted rape in April 1995. He was 16 at the time, and so was his victim. Petty served almost four years in NY state prison for the crime.
Years after being released, Petty was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, and served another seven years for shooting a man. He was released in 2013.
