Catholics Think Nicki Minaj Might Need Exorcism After 'Vulgar' Grammy Performance

Nicki Minaj's 2012 Grammy Awards performance of "Roman Holiday" started a war of words. Taking on the Catholic Church, the theatrical performance, which included an attempt at exorcism, resulted in the Catholic League's president making statements about the "vulgar" number and that perhaps Minaj herself might be possessed.

Nicki Minaj is in trouble with the Catholic Church -- or at least the Catholic League, which represents some interests of the Catholic Church in America. It appears that Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, took it upon himself to be offended for the Congregation for the hip hop singer's theatrical performance of her song "Roman Holiday" at the 2012 Grammy Awards on Sunday evening. In fact, Donohue asked if the "vulgar" number was an indication that Minaj might be possessed and in need of an exorcism herself.

“Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question," he said in a statement on the Catholic League website entitle "Is Nicki Minaj Possessed?," "but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of the Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam.”

What got him -- and possibly millions of Catholics who witnessed the performance -- all riled up? In a live performance promoted heavily throughout the show, Minaj combined film, choreography, theatre, and her own hip hop stylings to take on the controlling, oppressive nature of one of the world's most powerful religious institutions. Although the performance seemed to get more negative than positive reviews from the general media (EW slammed it), it was the message being sent with Minaj screaming at a priest, an altar boy praying between the spread legs of a bent-backwards dancer, the enactment of an exorcism, and the lyrics that blasted the Church's oppression of its members.

"Perhaps the most vulgar part was the sexual statement that showed a scantily clad female dancer stretching backwards while an altar boy knelt between her legs in prayer," Donohue accused in the statement.

The controversy with the Catholic Church likely brings back memories of Madonna's problems afer she debuted her video of "Like A Prayer" that featured a black Jesus (as opposed to the traditional Anglo-Semitic white or tanned Jesus). The video was condemned by the Vatican. Of course, Protestants were offended as well (for various reasons, chief among them the idea that their own interpretations of the messiah were challenged) with that interpretation of Christianity's central figure, but Madonna being raised Catholic got the lion's share of attention, as did the condemnations from the Church itself.

It is easy to simply brush off harsh criticism and say that it is the nature of the beast and everybody's a critic. However, dismissing adverse criticism does not make it go away. Nor does it address the point Minaj was attempting to make.

Although the stage performance was more in the neighborhood of Alice Cooper and Lady Gaga shock rock theatre and most likely left most watchers more confused than entertained, the presentation seems to have become the focus. That may have been Minaj's intent all along -- get the audience talking about the performance, explanation to come later. And though Minaj has often stated she does not like to be defined, she now has to assert herself and provide the message she was trying to send that is now getting lost in the controversy.

Why? Because Donohue's attacks, which are targeted at the superficial, will be joined by many other voices and are little more than a distraction. Calling the performance distasteful and disrespectful and pointing out areas of offense is simple misdirection. That the entire number was an indictment of the Catholic Church's anachronistic stances with regard to its members and that a person's true self cannot be -- should not be -- contained or exorcised by obsolescent patriarchal religious doctrine and/or rites is being shrouded in a crush of words condemning the singer and several perceived offensive instances in her performance.

Donohue took his distracting arguments further in an appearance on Fox News: "There are Catholic priests who are trained to perform exorcisms, and it seems plain that the time has come for Nicki Minaj to make an appointment. Even worse than Minaj is The Recording Academy that runs the Grammys: they knew exactly what she was going to do and gave her the green light. I’ve never heard of a collective exorcism, but there is a first time for everything.”

It should be noted that Donohue not only points an accusatory finger at Minaj but at the those responsible for the Grammy Awards. Added to his written statement that the Recording Academy would not have allowed the same kind of performance if it were directed toward Judaism or Islam, he pulls in elements of conspiracy and persecution to fuel his outrage.

Art is meant to provoke a response in its audience. In that respect, Nicki Minaj the artist succeeded. But when an intentional message is being sent, the artist does not succeed if the actual message is blocked, misinterpreted, or reinterpreted by others. Whether one looks at Minaj's performance as shock rock garbage or the work of a creative genius, her message must get through or it fails.

The Catholic League, with Bill Donohue leading the way, is attempting to ensure that it fails.

That is something that Bill Donohue and those of a like mind within the Catholic Church know how to accomplish all too well. Oppositional views are something the Church has dealt with and worked to control for centuries.

After the Grammys, Minaj stuck within a hardened rap persona. “Stay offended," she posted to Twitter. "Not a single F**K is given.”

Although the displayed attitude was not helpful, it should be noted that Minaj told Ryan Seacrest on his radio program at KIIS-FM in Los Angeles the following day that her performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards was the most "comfortable" she has ever felt on stage. She also noted that it was the Grammy producers that made the final choice of which of her songs she would perform at the live ceremony. And she said that the story of the young man's true spirit not being exorcised by the ministrations of the Church was the point. "Roman Holiday" was also just part of an ongoing work that she has been bringing to life for two years.

And NIcki Minaj's star is on the ascendant. Her being given a spot on the Grammy stage was proof. That she became the first female rap artist to perform solo at the Grammys says it as well. And the Catholic Church should already know that efforts to condemn an artist more often as not leads to an increase in their audience (even if just for a limited time), which results in the artist continuing to do whatever it was that caused the offense to begin with -- defeating the purpose of the condemnation.

Besides, it is apparent Minaj isn't open to her true self being exorcised...

It appears that, given the hip hop artist's style and popularity, Donohue and company might want to get comfortable being offended.

(photo credit: Philip Nelson, Creative Commons)

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