Nicki Minaj is not dating anyone. She is married. It's been a few years now, and honestly, the confusion usually stems from the fact that she keeps her private life behind a very thick, pink curtain. If you’re looking for a new boyfriend or a "hard launch" on Instagram, you won’t find it. She is still very much with Kenneth "Zoo" Petty.
They’ve been a thing since late 2018, but their history goes way back to when they were just kids in Queens. It's one of those "full circle" stories that Hollywood loves, even if the public has had a really hard time swallowing the details.
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The Reality of Nicki Minaj’s Current Relationship
The keyword here is married. Nicki and Kenneth Petty tied the knot on October 21, 2019. Since then, she’s legally been Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty. They didn’t have a massive, televised wedding like some of her peers. It was low-key. We’re talking "bride and groom" baseball caps and coffee mugs on Instagram low-key.
Why do people keep asking who she’s dating? Probably because she’s a titan in the industry and her husband stays mostly in the shadows, except for when he’s appearing in her music videos or getting caught up in legal headlines. They have a son together, born in September 2020, whom the world knows only as "Papa Bear." She has been incredibly protective of his real name and his face, especially in those early years.
A Timeline That Actually Makes Sense
- The 90s: They meet as teenagers at LaGuardia High School.
- December 2018: The "official" Instagram debut.
- October 2019: The secret wedding.
- September 2020: Papa Bear is born.
- 2023-2025: Weathering legal storms and world tours.
- 2026: Still together, while Nicki prepares for her next massive album drop.
Why Kenneth Petty Is So Polarizing
You can’t talk about who Nicki is with without talking about why it makes people uncomfortable. Kenneth Petty is a registered sex offender. He also served time for manslaughter. These aren't secrets; they are public record.
Nicki has spent a lot of energy defending him. She’s gone on Queen Radio and told everyone that he’s the only person who truly knows "Onika," the girl from the block, rather than "Nicki Minaj," the global superstar. She basically feels that because he knew her before the money, his love is the only one she can trust. It’s a ride-or-die mentality that’s caused a lot of friction with her fanbase, the Barbz, and the general public.
The Dynamics of Their Bond
She’s often said that Kenneth doesn’t care about the industry. He isn’t trying to be an influencer. He doesn't want the spotlight. For someone who lives under a microscope, that kind of indifference to fame is apparently a huge turn-on. In her 2023 Vogue interview, she mentioned how they spent the early days of parenthood without a nanny, just figuring it out. That kind of "us against the world" vibe is the glue in their marriage.
What’s Next for the Pettys?
Right now, the focus isn't on her dating life—it’s on her career and her family. Nicki is currently gearing up for a massive release on March 27, 2026. She’s been teasing this "Billionaire Barbie" era for a while now. While she’s out there "bodying" the charts and fighting with other rappers, Kenneth is usually just... there. In the background.
There were some rumors of trouble back in 2023 when Kenneth was placed on house arrest after some drama with Offset, but they seem to have moved past that. If they were going to break up, it probably would have happened during the height of the legal lawsuits involving Jennifer Hough. But they stayed unified.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following Nicki's journey, here is how to keep up without getting lost in the rumor mill:
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- Check the legal filings: Most "breakup" rumors are just noise unless there's a filing.
- Watch the lyrics: Nicki puts her real life in her bars. If there’s trouble in paradise, she’ll rap about it before a tabloid catches it.
- Ignore the "blind items": Gossip sites love to say she's secretly dating a mogul or another rapper. It's almost never true.
- Follow the official accounts: She usually addresses her relationship status directly on X (formerly Twitter) or during her live streams when she’s feeling chatty.
The bottom line? Nicki Minaj is off the market. She’s been off the market for a long time. Whether people like the guy or not, she’s made her choice and she’s sticking to it as she heads into this next chapter of her career.