Nicki Minaj gave birth to her first child on September 30, 2020. The baby’s father is Kenneth Petty, who Nicki refers to as her husband. Nicki and Kenneth’s relationship has sparked a lot of controversy and questions, especially around Kenneth’s criminal past. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at who Kenneth Petty is, his relationship with Nicki, and the reactions to him becoming a father.
Who is Kenneth Petty?
Kenneth Petty was born on April 7, 1978 in Queens, New York. He grew up in the same neighborhood as Nicki Minaj and has known her since they were teenagers.
Petty has had multiple run-ins with the law starting as a teenager. In 1995, he was convicted of attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl and served almost 4 years in NY state prison. He is also a registered sex offender for this crime.
In 2006, Petty was convicted of manslaughter for shooting a man and served 7 years in prison.
Outside of his criminal history, not much is known about Petty’s career or life. He seems to keep a low profile outside of his relationship with Nicki Minaj.
Nicki Minaj’s Relationship with Kenneth Petty
Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty reconnected in 2018 and started dating. They obtained a marriage license in 2019 and reportedly had a small private wedding ceremony.
Nicki has been vocal about her love for Petty on social media, calling him her “husband” and soulmate. She’s defended their relationship against critics of his criminal past.
In December 2019, Petty made headlines when he was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender in California. Nicki stood by him and voiced frustration about the media coverage of his arrest.
Nicki has credited Petty with supporting her career and making her happy. She’s stated she plans to have a child with him when the time is right.
Reactions to Kenneth Petty Becoming a Father
When Nicki announced her pregnancy in July 2020, it was assumed Kenneth Petty was the father based on their marriage. This was confirmed when Nicki posted about her “papa bear” after giving birth.
Reactions to Petty becoming a father were mixed:
Positive Reactions
– Fans who support Nicki were happy for her starting a family.
– Some argued Petty deserves a second chance despite his criminal history.
– Many noted people can change and hoped he would be a good father.
Negative Reactions
– Critics brought up Petty’s sex offender status and argued he shouldn’t be around children.
– Some said the #MeToo movement has held others accountable and Petty should be too.
– Many felt Nicki was irresponsible for having a child with him given his past.
– Some worried about the safety and well-being of Nicki’s child.
Debates Sparked
Petty becoming a father sparked wider debates about:
– If the justice system fairly punishes and rehabilitates criminals, especially related to gender and race.
– If people with a troubling past deserve opportunities for redemption and to build a family.
– How much public figures should be scrutinized for their personal relationships.
– If celebrities normalize problematic behavior by standing by controversial partners.
Kenneth Petty’s Legal Issues Continue
In March 2021, Petty surrendered to federal authorities to begin serving time for failing to register as a sex offender.
He struck a plea deal for 1 year in prison and 1 year of supervised release. This resolved both the California charges from 2019 and additional charges filed in 2020.
Nicki spoke out in support of Petty on social media around this time. She stated he was “lied on and falsely accused” and she planned to marry him once he’s home.
This prompted more debates around Nicki standing by Petty and her lack of sympathy for sexual assault survivors. Many continue to criticize her dismissal of Petty’s criminal history.
Nicki Gives Birth to Their Son
On September 30, 2020, Nicki Minaj gave birth to her first child, a son.
Based on her posts, it was confirmed Kenneth Petty is the father. Nicki refers to Petty as her “papa bear” and has shared messages about wanting to have his baby for a long time.
The birth came around a year after Nicki announced she was retiring to start a family. She shared maternity photos and pregnancy updates with fans over the months leading up to the birth.
Details about Nicki’s son are limited since she has not revealed his name or shared full photos of him. She has stated she plans to keep her son out of the spotlight.
How Kenneth Petty’s Past Could Impact His Son
While Kenneth Petty maintains a relatively low profile, his criminal history brings up questions about the impact on his son down the line.
Custody
– As a registered sex offender, Petty’s access to his child could be limited. However, his marriage to Nicki may give him parental rights.
Safety Concerns
– Some have expressed concerns about Petty being around Nicki’s young son given his past conviction for attempted rape of a minor.
Public Scrutiny
– Being the child of two prominent celebrities will likely lead to public scrutiny, heightened by Petty’s reputation.
Online Presence
– Details about Petty’s criminal history are readily available online, which his son could discover as he gets older.
Emotional Impact
– Learning this type of information about your father could be emotionally difficult.
– Not having a relationship with your biological father could also lead to emotional issues.
Defending His Father
– Nicki has defended Petty as a changed man and good partner. Their son may feel inclined to defend his father against ongoing criticism.
What Kenneth Petty is Doing Now
As of late 2022, Kenneth Petty has completed his year-long federal prison sentence for failure to register as a sex offender.
It’s unclear how involved he currently is in raising his son with Nicki Minaj. Nicki has shared a few photos and videos that appear to show Petty with their child.
However, Nicki also seems to have a team of nannies and assistants who help with childcare when she’s working.
Petty has not made any public statements since becoming a father. He does not have his own social media profiles.
It’s likely he will continue to maintain a low profile due to the controversy around his past. Many are still critical of Nicki’s decision to start a family with Petty given his history.
Where the Relationship Stands
Nicki Minaj has described Kenneth Petty as her soulmate and “the love of [her] life” since even before they had a child together.
She seems committed to standing by Petty despite outside opinions about their relationship. Having a baby has likely strengthened their bond further.
However, some speculate that the realities of Petty’s status as a registered sex offender have put strain on their relationship.
His legal situation has also physically separated them at times while he serves jail time. It’s unclear how hands-on he is able to be as a present father.
Nicki declaring she’ll marry Kenneth when he’s out of jail suggests she still sees a future with him. But only time will tell how Petty’s role in their son’s life develops going forward.
Conclusion
In summary, Kenneth Petty’s controversial past as a convicted sex offender has sparked strong reactions to him becoming the father of Nicki Minaj’s son.
While Nicki fully supports Petty as her husband and father of her child, many have concerns about this high-profile relationship.
Petty’s history raises questions about the impact on his son, though the details of Petty’s current role as a parent are unclear.
Nicki continues to stand by Petty, but his legal obligations seem likely to keep him out of the public eye and potentially physically apart from his new family.
The public scrutiny around Petty is likely to continue as Nicki shares more about their child growing up. But Nicki seems committed to Petty in both her personal and family life for the foreseeable future.