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Nicki Minaj and husband Kenneth Petty welcome first baby but Internet congratulates Tom Holland, here's why

The bizarre trend began in 2018 and soon beauty blogger James Charles was part of this evolving fan fiction

Popstar and rapper Nicki Minaj on September 30, welcomed her first baby. This news comes nearly three months after Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, broke the news that they were expecting their first child together. The child was reportedly born in Los Angeles. 

In a 2014 interview, Minaj told Complex that one of her biggest dreams was to become a mother. “[My biggest fear] is that I’ll become so consumed with work that I’ll forget to live my personal life to the fullest," she said. "If I’m done with my fifth album and I don’t have a child by then, no matter how much money I have, I would be disappointed, as a woman, because I feel like I was put here to be a mother.”

Minaj and Petty got married less than a year ago. Last year, in June, Minaj said on ‘Queen Radio’ that she and Petty had acquired a marriage license. "We did get our marriage license," the rapper said. "I think I have what I was striving for, just happiness. It was so hard to get to a happy place. Now that I'm there, I don't want to compromise that for anyone or anything." The following month, Minaj (whose birth name is Onika Maraj) confirmed that she was engaged. The two got married in late October 2019. 

It’s a happy occasion for Minaj and Petty. But the internet seems to be congratulating a totally different person: actor Tom Holland. “Tom Holland makes an emergency exit from Uncharted set after news that partner Nicki Minaj delivers baby Holland, an insider claims,” joked a Twitter user. Another Twitter user wrote in all caps, “Nicki Minaj and Tom Holland are officially parents I can’t believe it,” sharing a clearly photoshopped image of Holland, Minaj, and two children.

Another Twitter user wrote in the fashion of a news report, “‘Megatron’ rapper Nicki Minaj gave birth to her daughter, TMZ reports. Minaj's long-term boyfriend, Tom Holland expresses his happiness on becoming a father via Instagram stories. ‘This is the best thing that has ever happened to me’ Tom says, ‘After Nicki, of course, haha’.” Another Twitter user, sharing photoshopped pictures of Holland and Minaj, wrote, “Congratulations to tom holland and Nicki Minaj on their first baby.”

Twitter was soon filled with posts like these. The real question, of course, is why? The answer is bizarre in more ways than one. What makes it really bizarre, however, is that Minaj and Holland aren’t the only two people who are part of this. Beauty blogger James Charles also features in this made-up relationship.

Sometime in 2018, a few (now deleted) Instagram accounts began sharing photos of Holland and Minaj together, expressing their desire for this relationship to manifest in real life. This soon evolved into fanfiction on these Instagram accounts in the form of comic panels featuring the two.

In April 2019, the ante was upped when a Twitter user called @tomnetherlands began sharing videos of this fan fiction. But the videos also featured Charles. The saga’s story goes something like this: Holland kills Charles, despite the fact that the latter loves him. And he does so with a heavy heart. Immediately, Holland calls Minaj and informs her, who in turn professes her love for him.

But this happiness was not to last. Charles, who is somehow not dead, arrives and kills Minaj. Holland is heartbroken. And even though Charles tells him how much he loves him, he is not consoled. All of a sudden, Minaj, who clearly has not died as well, arrives and shoots Charles.

If you thought this was weird, it gets weirder still. Minaj then tells Holland that she loves someone else. And it is none other than BTS’s Jungkook. Holland tells her that he’s happy for them. The first five parts of the story were shared by the Twitter user, writing, “why did i make this,” followed by, “please help me i don't know,” adding, “help me please,” followed by, “the conclusion,” and finally, “i hate this.”

The story, that was then carried forward by others, goes on to feature Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, and others. There is really no explanation for why this bizarre subculture exists. But it does.