Nicki Minaj Releases New ‘Anaconda’ Cover Art, Pushes Back Single’s Release
Nicki Minaj may have changed her mind about that racy “Anaconda” cover art.
The rapper posted a picture for the upcoming single that showed herself wearing a thong bikini and squatting down to display her backside. Not long after Nicki debuted the “Anaconda” artwork it became a viral hit, garnering media attention as well as plenty of criticism for its risqué nature.
But now Nicki Minaj has decided to delay the release of “Anaconda,” pushing it back one week to Monday, August 4.
“My darlingz, I’ve pushed the release of Anaconda to next week, Monday 8/4. I promise you will understand why before the week is out. Loveeeeeeee uuuuuu,” Nicki wrote.
Nicki also swapped out the original cover for a bit of a softer one from the same photo session. In the new “Anaconda” cover, Nicki is standing facing the camera, wearing the same pink bikini as the original shot.
Nicki didn’t give a reason for the single’s delay, but there was some speculation that the blowback over the cover art may have had something to do with it.
The change to the “Anaconda” release is bound to make some people unhappy. As MTV News reported, the internet was already filled with several Nicki Minaj-inspired products based on the racy cover, including wall clocks, T-shirts, and even shower curtains. Some sites listed “Anaconda” cover onesie for babies.
There was even a “leak” of a supposed pre-Photoshop version of the “Anaconda” cover, one that showed Nicki Minaj with considerable more weight in her mid-section and a darker skin tone.
There was no verification if the photo was indeed from the same session, and to some it appeared that this so-called “original” photo may have actually been touched up in order to present Nicki in a less flattering light.
But Nicki Minaj herself has taken on critics of the “Anaconda” cover, defending the photo on Twitter and sharing a series of Sports Illustrated swimsuit photos that she said were deemed “acceptable” while her shot was criticized.
