Nicki Minaj has received a heartfelt and public apology from former NFL star and media personality Shannon Sharpe, following a pointed lyric she aimed at him in her recent collaboration with Lil Wayne, titled “Banned from NO.”
The song, part of a project paying homage to Lil Wayne’s New Orleans roots, features a sharp line from Minaj that appears to take a jab at Sharpe:
“‘Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe.”
The lyric is believed to reference an earlier moment when Sharpe, during a conversation with a fan on social media, appeared dismissive of the rapper. In response to a suggestion that Nicki Minaj should appear on his Nicki Minaj Shay Shay podcast, Sharpe allegedly responded with “Nicki who?” — a remark that many fans and Nicki Minaj herself took as disrespect.
In the latest episode of his Nightcap show, Sharpe addressed the controversy directly and took the opportunity to explain the situation while offering a lengthy and sincere apology to the Grammy-nominated rapper.
“I used to go back and forth with people on social media,” Sharpe said during the episode. “In that instance, I was talking about Nikki Haley, not Nicki Minaj. Nikki Haley had made a comment about how it’s a great time for Black Americans, and I was responding to that, questioning when it’s ever been great.”
Shannon Sharpe Apologizes to Nicki Minaj After Diss on Lil Wayne Collaboration “Banned from NO”
Sharpe acknowledged that his comment may have been misunderstood and caused unintended offense. “Nicki, I was not trying to be disrespectful,” he continued. “Of course I know who you are. You’re a global superstar. It would be arrogant for me to assume that you know who I am or know about Club Shay Shay — I’m not that full of myself.”
He went on to express that the apology came from a place of genuine regret and a desire to move forward respectfully.
“Nicki Minaj , I apologize. I meant no disrespect,” Sharpe stated. “You will always have an open invitation if you ever want to come sit down for a conversation. Even if you prefer to keep it private over the phone, that’s fine too. It stays between us.”
Sharpe concluded his apology with a sincere message: “That was not my intent. But intent only matters to me — what matters more is how you felt. And clearly, you felt disrespected. So I apologize sincerely and hope we can move forward.”
The public apology has been met with a mixed reaction online, with some praising Sharpe for his humility and willingness to address the issue, while others pointed out the importance of being mindful with public comments — especially when speaking about high-profile figures like Nicki Minaj .
While Sharpe may have caught a stray lyric, he wasn’t the only one in Minaj’s crosshairs. In “Banned from NO,” the rapper also takes aim at JAY-Z and the NFL, voicing her frustration over the league’s decision to exclude Lil Wayne from the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year.
“NFL, fire some n-ggas and then call us,” she raps, referencing the league’s complex relationship with Black artists and performers.
Minaj then appears to criticize JAY-Z directly for his partnership with the NFL and his influence over artist selection for major events:
“One n-gga took a knee. The other n-gga took the bag. He gon’ get you ‘n-ggers’ in line every f–king time.”
The lyrics seem to reference the contrast between Colin Kaepernick, who was effectively blackballed from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem, and JAY-Z, who struck a business deal with the league to oversee entertainment and social justice initiatives.
Minaj’s pointed commentary reignites conversations about who gets to represent hip-hop on national stages, particularly when artists like Lil Wayne, a New Orleans icon, are sidelined in favor of others. Many fans have echoed her sentiments online, suggesting that Wayne deserved a place in the Super Bowl spotlight — especially given his legacy and influence on modern rap.
As both Sharpe and Minaj continue to shape their legacies in media and music respectively, this exchange serves as a reminder of the power — and responsibility — that public figures hold when engaging with one another. Whether Sharpe’s apology leads to reconciliation or further conversation remains to be seen, but his willingness to publicly acknowledge and take accountability has earned him at least some goodwill from fans.
