(AllHipHop News) In the wake of the Ray Rice elevator tape being exposed, domestic violence has become a national conversation. It has also become a major topic overseas, and one of America’s most successful performers’ history of witnessing abuse was recently covered in a British publication.
Nicki Minaj (born Onika Maraj) has always been open about the fact she saw her mother being abused as a child. Nicki’s mom Carol Manaj has now publicly addressed what took place in their household as well. During an interview with The Sun, Ms. Manaj spoke about how her husband Robert had the entire family living in fear.
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“My husband used to get high on cocaine and alcohol and would come home and terrorize the whole family,” said Manaj. “One night I woke up and smelt smoke. I went downstairs and the kitchen was on fire. I had to run out of the house and it burned to the ground.”
Apparently, Nicki and her brothers would have to listen to their mother being beaten from their rooms.
“Some nights, while my children were sleeping, my husband would come in intoxicated. He would be very menacing and threaten me, calling me a whole lot of names,” Manaj added. “My children would sit up in their beds crying and wait it out. He would bring so much fear to them, they wouldn’t know his next move.”
Manaj eventually threw Robert out of the house, and they have not reconciled since. Nicki of course went on to become one of the biggest music stars in the world. Her next full length project The Pinkprint is due out on November 24.
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