Copyright Variety
SZA isn’t an artist who regularly gets involved in controversies, but when challenged, she will push back. That was the situation last summer when firebrand rapper Nicki Minaj publicly accused SZA’s manager, TDE’s Terrence “Punch” Henderson, of bullying her. SZA responded obliquely, but then the situation devolved into a back and forth too complicated to summarize quickly. SZA spoke about the exchange in the latest GQ. “I don’t know her,” SZA said of Minaj. “We have no connection to each other. There’s no backstory. Like, there was no through line narrative. It was just like, ‘Roc Nation’…. I don’t know where it came from. That’s not even my place to correct a narrative that I don’t got shit to do with. It was a little strange. It was very like, ‘Why?’ But also, you know, ‘I guess.’ ” That’s not the only controversy she found herself embroiled in: Over the past year, she’s worked extensively with Kendrick Lamar, who is also managed by Top Dawg Entertainment, and found herself getting collateral flak from Lamar’s ongoing, high-profile feud with Drake (which is even more complicated than the Minaj spat). SZA was quick to say that she’s friends with both artists and called the situation “unfortunate.” “It was something between two grown-ass men, so why would I insert myself between something between two grown-ass men, you know?,” she said. “And I feel like that’s how everybody felt — with the exception of people who didn’t feel that way. I didn’t really have any stake, per se. Obviously, I love Kendrick. I’m signed to TDE. That’s my family. Obviously, I’ve known Drake for so long and we have a beautiful rapport. And, obviously, it’s always unfortunate when the unfortunate occurs.”
