Cyndi Lauper isn’t distancing herself from Nicki Minaj over the rapper’s support for President Donald Trump, insisting that political disagreements shouldn’t prevent people from listening to one another. The 73-year-old “Time After Time” singer shared her thoughts in an interview with The Guardian when asked whether Minaj’s political stance had changed how she felt about their past collaboration.
“No,” Lauper replied. “First of all, I don’t believe in cancellation.” She emphasized the importance of keeping dialogue open, even when views diverge—a stance rooted in the Cyndi Lauper legacy of freedom struggle and inclusivity that defined her career.
Minaj, 43, sampled Lauper’s classic “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” for her 2023 song “Pink Friday Girls.” The two later performed together during Minaj’s Brooklyn concert in May 2024. Lauper explained that her original song carried a message about women’s independence and Black excellence, something she still believes in regardless of Minaj’s political views.
“I don’t know what she’s doing now. But I still don’t think you cancel people, because otherwise there’s no room for discussion,” said the pop singer. She added, “If you want people to listen to you, you need to listen to people.” Her approach reflects a thoughtful cultural meditation on how we engage across differences in today’s polarized climate.
The comments follow Minaj’s increasingly public embrace of Trump, including an appearance alongside him in January 2026. Yet Lauper’s refusal to sever ties demonstrates a commitment to understanding over judgment—a principle that extends to how we navigate queer identity and political expression in spaces that have historically demanded conformity.
★m★
