Fans React To Nicki Minaj Pregnancy With Kenneth Petty, Registered Sex Offender

What should've been a coronation for Nicki Minaj's first child has turned into a fan backlash. Announcing her pregnancy on Instagram earlier this week, Minaj has once again come under fire from fans denouncing her husband and the father of the baby, Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender.

Yesterday, Minaj posted a series of pregnancy photos by photographer Dave LaChappelle. The first, captioned with "#Preggers," received more than 10 million likes. However, comments for the picture were disabled. Comments were also disabled for the other three posts.

According to the Twitter account Nicki Minaj Charts, the picture is "her most liked post on the platform so far."

.@NICKIMINAJ's pregnancy reveal has now surpassed 10 MILLION likes on Instagram!

-- This is her most liked post on the platform so far! 💖 pic.twitter.com/M5aNUd6xna

— Nicki Minaj Charts (@nmcharts) July 21, 2020

Vocally, however, fans were a little less enthused. Some criticized Minaj and her relationship with Kenneth Petty, her husband and the baby's father. Reactions ranged from concern to jokes about Petty's charges.

Can’t believe Nicki actually did it. She got pregnant by a man that won’t be able to drive their child to school because he’s a registered sex offender. 😔

— La Primera Vaca (@yosoymichael) July 20, 2020

Lol @NICKIMINAJ how you feel knowing you cant invite other kids to your kids bday party if your baby daddy is around ?

— Tit$ (@marixo22) July 20, 2020

ain’t nicki minaj’s husband a rapist and pedophile? y’all forget?

— do not perceive me (@wakemoupinside) July 20, 2020

this how Nicki Minaj’s husband lookin at his child play in the park: pic.twitter.com/JAnMfbE3hA

— james (@poodigy) July 20, 2020

In 1995, Petty was convicted of attempted first-degree rape. The charges, connected to a 1994 assault when Petty and the victim were 16, also states that a knife or another cutting tool was used in the attack.

These weren't the only legal troubles for Petty. The Daily Dot writes that in 2006, "he pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges. He served seven years in prison and was on a supervised release program for five years. He's been off the program for only two years."

Earlier this year, Kenneth Petty turned himself in to federal custody for failing to register as a sex offender in California, according to USA Today.

In the past, Minaj defended Petty. In one Instagram exchange captured by The Shade Room, Minaj said of Petty, "he was 15, she was 16… in a relationship."

Some fans and Twitter users side-stepped the controversy entirely by joking about how Tom Holland is the father of the baby. The jokes stem from a years-long joke ship of the two celebrities.

Nicki Minaj has announce she is expecting her first child with husband Tom Holland! Best of luck to the happy couple 🙏 pic.twitter.com/R0GS1bziCd

— BLAKE (@BLAKEMENT) July 20, 2020