• Comedian references husband Kenneth Petty’s sex offender status in defense of California governor
• Hughley posts video criticizing rapper’s support of Trump while married to registered offender
• Minaj attacked Newsom over transgender youth support following recent podcast appearance

LOS ANGELES, CA (TDR) — Comedian D.L. Hughley inserted himself into the escalating feud between rapper Nicki Minaj and California Governor Gavin Newsom by questioning her credibility to discuss children’s safety. In a Sunday post to his Threads account, Hughley cited her husband Kenneth Petty’s registered sex offender status as grounds for why the rapper should avoid weighing in on child-related issues.

Sharp Words for the Rapper

The 62-year-old entertainer wrote that Minaj “shouldn’t post anything about kids cuz her husband can’t be within 1000 ft of one,” adding that it isn’t Newsom but rather “Chris Hansen” she should worry about, referencing the host of the NBC series “To Catch a Predator.” Hughley followed with a video elaborating on his position.

“She supports a dude that is on the Epstein list 1,000 times.”

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In the video posted across TikTok and Instagram, Hughley doubled down by highlighting Minaj’s recent embrace of President Donald Trump. The comedian suggested hypocrisy in her child safety concerns given her marriage to a convicted sex offender and her support for Trump, who he claimed appeared on unreleased Epstein documents multiple times.

Petty’s Criminal History

Kenneth “Zoo” Petty was convicted of first-degree attempted rape in 1995 in New York when both he and the victim were 16 years old. The conviction included charges of assault in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal weapon possession. Petty served nearly four years in prison before his January 1999 release.

In 2022, Petty received one year of home confinement and three years of probation for failing to register as a sex offender after moving to California with Minaj. Prosecutors had requested 15 months in prison but the judge sentenced him to house arrest at the couple’s six-bedroom Calabasas home and a $55,000 fine.

Origins of Newsom Dispute

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The confrontation between Minaj and Newsom erupted after the governor’s December 10 appearance on The Ezra Klein Show, where he stated he wants to see transgender children thrive. Newsom noted he signed more pro-trans legislation than any other governor and has been a strong LGBTQ community advocate.

Minaj responded with multiple posts attacking the prospective 2028 presidential candidate, writing that no transgender adult would campaign on wanting to see trans kids. She mocked Newsom with nicknames and suggested he should pursue another career instead of politics.

Governor’s Musical Clap Back

Newsom appeared to respond by posting Megan Thee Stallion’s diss track “Hiss” on social media Friday, a song that references Megan’s Law in relation to sex offenders. The move was widely interpreted as a subtle jab at Minaj given Petty’s status and the ongoing feud between Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion.

The rapper escalated tensions with warnings to the governor, posting that people behind him don’t care about him and she could “go a lot deeper.” She encouraged her fanbase, known as Barbz, to protect her from what she called a “wicked and evil man.”

As of Monday evening, Minaj had not publicly responded to Hughley’s criticism, though her supporters flooded social media with reactions defending the rapper and attacking the comedian’s comments.

Will Minaj’s recent political pivot and public feuds impact her standing with fans who previously supported her as a hip-hop icon and cultural voice?

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