(AllHipHop News) The President of the Catholic League has issued a statement denouncing Nicki Minaj’s performance at the 54th annual Grammy Awards last night (February 12).
Catholic League President Bill Donohue was offended by the religious overtones in the performance, which included a mock exorcism, a confessional skit, choirboys and monks dancing.
“Nicki Minaj, fresh off looking like a fool with Madonna at the Super Bowl, showed up last night on the red carpet at the Grammys with a guy dressed like the pope,” Bill Donahue snapped. “This was just a prelude of what was to come.”
During the performance, the song “Come All Ye Faithful” was sung, as a fake Bishop walked on the stage.
Nicki Minaj then apparently became possessed during the skit, which Bill Donohue labeled irresponsible.
“Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy,” Bill Donahue said. “Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam.”
“Roman Zolanski” is Nicki Minaj’s alter ego, who is reportedly a gay male, apparently inspired in part by gay filmmaker Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski himself was a lightning rod for controversy, after he was arrested and charged with the abuse of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
To avoid sentencing, he fled to France.
In 2009, Polanski went to Switzerland to accept an award, where he was arrested at the request of U.S. authorities.
He was in custody for almost two months, but he was released from custody in July of 2010 after the Swiss refused to extradite him.
Charges against him remain pending in the United States.
As for Nicki, she was performing “Roman Holiday,” the first single from her upcoming album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
According to Bill Donohue, Catholics are already facing a hostile administration in Washington, D.C., due to President Obama’s new contraception proposal.
“It’s bad enough that Catholics have to fight for their rights vis-à-vis a hostile administration in Washington without also having to fend off attacks in the entertainment industry,” Bill Donahue continued. “The net effect, however, will only embolden Catholics, as well as their friends in other faith communities.”