Nicki Minaj criticised by NAMI for making fun of mentally ill woman in Instagram video

Nicki Minaj of “Anaconda” fame has been criticised by the National Alliance on mental Illness (NAMI-Miami) after she posted an Instagram video on Dec. 5. The star shared a short clip on Instagram where she allegedly mocks a mentally ill woman in Miami. TMZ has claimed that certain comments on the video clip show that the woman is well-known in that beach area and that she suffers from mental illness.

In the video, Nicki Minaj is heard laughing at a woman who yells at her. “Come here,” Minaj says to the woman adding, “Can we talk?” The woman asks her to go away several times, which makes the star burst into laughter.

A number of Instagram users have condemned Minaj for her behaviour. When TMZ approached NAMI regarding the issue, it said, “Mental illness is no laughing matter, but unfortunately attitudes like the one Nicki Minaj shows in the Instagram video are a consequence of the stigma and ignorance that mentally ill patients endure.” The group also said that Minaj “dehumanised” and “objectified” her by ridiculing her plight.

NAMI has also stressed on the influence that celebrities have on young minds. “It is sad to see a big star like Nicki Minaj using her influence among young people in a negative manner such as this.” With more and more celebrities revealing about their mental health issues, this Instagram video by Nicki Minaj is being criticised all over the world.

The video is still available on Minaj's Instagram page and the rapper has not yet commented on the criticims.

Nicki Minaj was also amidst a lot of controversy when she attended the Grammys 2012 with a man who dressed himself as the Pope.