Who Is Nicki Minaj's Husband? All About Kenneth Petty

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Nicki Minajmet her now-husbandKenneth “Zoo” Pettywhen she was just a teenager.

The pair first crossed paths when they were students at the same high school. The two lost touch for years before reconnecting in 2018, leading to a whirlwind romance. Minaj and Petty wed in 2019 and welcomed a son in 2020.

“He understands her as a person,” Minaj’s friend and musician Derrick Milanotold PEOPLEin October 2019. “I think that’s what the connection really is with them — it’s that he really knows her. It’s a different type of connection. He’s not famous, he doesn’t want to be on Instagram. Like, that’s not his M.O. (modus operandi). He’s really focused on her.”

Despite their low-key relationship, Petty’s legal troubles have made headlines in recent years. He is a level two registered sex offender in New York and spent several years in jail for both attempted rape in the first degree and first-degree manslaughter.

So who is Nicki Minaj’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Kenneth Petty and his relationship with the rapper.

He and Minaj met in high school

Nicki Minaj Instagram

Minaj and Petty attended LaGuardia High School in New York City together when they were teenagers living in Queens. Theydated brieflyat the time, but lost touch over the years before reconnecting in 2018.

Minaj has talked about her early days with Petty in several instances. She mentioned the romance inChance the Rapper’s 2019 hit “Zanies and Fools.” “I met my husband when I was 17 out in Queens / If you love it, let it go, now I know what that means / While he was up North for a body / I bodied everybody and got known for my body,” she raps on the track.

In January 2019, she shared details about their teen relationship onTwitter. “We were like this about each other since we were very young kids in the hood,” she wrote. “He was on my body before the big ol' ghetto booty. Before the fame and fortune. Fought my boyfriend cuz I wouldn’t be his girl. He was always a lil brazy. But anyway, timing is everything.”

He and Minaj have been back together since 2018

The duo reunited in 2018 and went public with their romance that December when Minaj shared anInstagram slideshowof the pair. “He want me to be his wife - his MISSIS like SIPPI NOW,” she captioned the photos, which showed them laughing, smiling and cuddling.

Not long after, Petty debuted amassive neck tattooof Minaj’s birth name, Onika. “Did ya tat hurt zaddy? His first tat - frontin like it didn’t sting #Onika #HeavyOnIt” she captioned apostunveiling his new ink.

He’s a registered sex offender

Petty wasconvicted of attempted rapein the first degree in April 1995 for an assault the previous year of a then-16-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 18 to 54 months in prison and is listed as a level two registered sex offender in New York state. He served four years behind bars for the assault.

In July 2022, Pettywas sentencedto a year of house arrest and three years of probation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, plus a $55,000 fine.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter

Petty pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for killing a man named Lamont Robinson in 2002. He was originallycharged with second-degree murderduring the 2006 trial, but a plea bargain reduced the charge.

Minaj has repeatedly defended their relationship

Kenneth Petty and Nicki Minaj.Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

In July 2019, Minaj spoke out against critics of her relationship on an episode of herQueen Radiopodcast. “When a person is with a n— that loved them before they had a dime in their pocket? How do you not understand that? How do you not understand happiness vs clout?” she said, according toE! News.

“How f—ing dare you talk about lowering standards? It’s the truth, money cannot buy me happiness and good sex,” she finished.

Talk showhostWendy Williamsfound herself in Minaj’s crosshairs when she brought up Petty’s prior issues with the law in November 2019. “Now, he served seven years in prison and he’s also a sex offender,“Williams said on her show. “So that means that he — is a manslaughter a killer? Okay, so he’s a killer and a sex offender. Well Nicki, congratulations.”

In January 2024,Minaj and Petty made headlinesagain after fellow rapperMegan Thee Stallionallegedly referenced Petty’s status as a level 2 sex offender on her track “Hiss.” (Minaj and Megan have had an alleged falling out since collaborating on “Hot Girl Summer” in 2019.)

In the song, Megan raps, “These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law / I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start,” referring to the law that requires sex offenders to register with the state. Fans alleged that the mention of Megan’s Law was a direct reference to Petty, who is a level 2 sex offender.

He and Minaj got married in October 2019

On Oct. 21, 2019, Minaj confirmed she wasofficially a married womanwith an Instagrampost. “Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 102119,” she captioned a video of some “bride” and “groom” swag, also revealing she hyphenated her last name.

Little is known about Minaj and Perry’s wedding, but a source told PEOPLE that Minaj “wanted to keep herwedding low-key.”

“She’s become much more private over the last year, but she is very happy,” the insider added.

Eight months later, while chatting withLil Wayneon her show, Minajopened up about married life.

“I didn’t think it would be as refreshing and calming as it is,” she said. “Even if you’re not married, when you have someone that feels like your soulmate or someone who understands you, it just makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.”

In October 2024, Minaj and Petty celebrated theirfifth wedding anniversary.

“Love at first sight. Thank you for catching me…every single time,” the “Moment 4 Life” rapper wrote on Instagram in honor of the couple’s milestone.

He and Minaj share a son

Their child, whose name still hasn’t been revealed, was born on Sept. 30, 2020,PEOPLE confirmedat the time. Minajrevealed the sexof her little one two weeks later, on Oct. 20, while showing off acongratulatory notefromBeyoncéand other celebrities.

“Thank you to Queen B, Kim & Ye, Riccardo Tisci, Winnie, Karol & everyone who sent well wishes during this time. It meant the world to me,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am so grateful and in love with my son. Madly in love,” she added. “My favorite liddo boy in the whole wide world.”

Minaj later shareddetails of the momentshe and her husband realized her water broke. “I was butt naked,” she wrote onTwitter. “Just got out the shower and I asked him to rub my back. As soon as I started scooting over to him in the bed I just felt the water start coming out. I was weirdly calm and I quietly said ‘omg, I’m about to be in labor.’ He was very scared and I was laughing at him.”

He’s made cameos in Minaj’s music videos

Minaj has also faced legal trouble relating to her husband

Minaj became involved with Petty’s legal issues when his alleged rape victim, Jennifer Hough, filed a harassment lawsuit against the rapper and her husband. TheAugust 2021 complaintclaimed Minaj and Petty tried to use their money, power and fame to threaten her into walking back her rape accusations. She claimed Minaj called her personally to request Hough change her story and later offered her $20,000 to sign a prepared statement that recanted her accusations.

For her part, Hough’s lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, assured PEOPLE he was still pursuing action against Minaj’s husband. “The case against Nicki was voluntarily dismissed,” he said. “The case against Kenneth Petty is still ongoing. Stay tuned!”

He violated his probation when he threatened rapper Offset

Broadimage/Shutterstock; Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images

In September 2023, Petty threatenedCardi B’s husband,Offset, on social media. He was then sentenced to120 days of house arrest, according to court documents.

source: people.com