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Rapper wants to be an advocate for abused women

Nicki Minaj is known for her strong persona and feisty attitude–so it surprised many fans when Minaj opened up on Twitter about being abused by an ex-boyfriend. She urged her followers to support women in abusive relationships, instead of looking down on them for not getting out sooner.

“When u see a woman in a toxic relationship, rather than laugh & say mean things, try to offer sound advice from your heart & root for her to learn her worth. We’ve all been there. I saw my parents fight & argue non stop & never divorce, so I thought this was normal behavior,” Minaj wrote. “I really [sic] used to think love had to hurt. So I could never look down on anyone else. We are merely human. It’s not easy to leave. Especially in the world of IG where all ppl want to do is post relationship goal pics for clout & attention. A man should make you feel safe, not afraid.”

Minaj said that in order to break the abuse cycle, she had to learn to love herself.

“If you wouldn’t let a man treat your mother, your sister or best friend like that b/c you LOVE them, then you wouldn’t let a man treat YOU like that b/c you love YOU. This isn’t about judging. We judge too much. Lift them up,” Minaj tweeted.