Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 30, 2025 · Entertainment

Nelly's Fiery Rant: Kamala Harris and 'Locking Up Black Men'

Nelly has responded to the backlash he's received since signing on to perform at the Liberty Ball on Monday night in Washington, DC  (Pictured in Los Angeles in October 2024)

Nelly's Scorching Tirade Against Kamala Harris: The Rapper's Shocking Defense of Donald Trump and Snoop Dogg

In a jaw-dropping display of audacity, music superstar Nelly has come under fire for his explosive comments on Kamala Harris, the presidential candidate who lost the election to Donald Trump. But instead of apologizing or backing down, the rapper launched into a scathing tirade against the former prosecutor and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

The drama unfolded when Nelly appeared on Hot 97's Ebro In The Morning podcast, where he vehemently denied being "pro-Trump" during his performance at Trump's inauguration ball. According to Nelly, his decision to perform was all about showing respect for the office of the presidency, not endorsement of any particular candidate.

As fans accused the star of being 'manipulative', Nelly jumped into The Shade Room's comments section to blast the prosecutor for 'locking up black men' as well as taking aim at her 'white husband' Doug Emhoff - Harris and Emhoff pictured August 2024

"I'm not doing this for money, I'm doing this 'cause it's an honor," he insisted, comparing himself to military personnel who put their lives on the line for whoever is in office. "It don't matter who's in office."

But when asked about Trump's divisive policies and rhetoric, Nelly seemed completely oblivious to the criticism. In fact, he appeared to be defending the president's questionable actions as if they were justified.

The rapper then took to The Shade Room's comments section to lash out at fans who accused him of being "manipulative" and trying to confuse his audience with wordplay. But instead of addressing their concerns, Nelly launched into a vicious attack on Harris, claiming that she had locked up black men and married a white man.

The news comes amid continued backlash over the rapper's decision to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration ball on Monday

"You know what I'm saying?" he sneered. "Instead of giving a brother the exact fundamental of what he did, what he said. Nobody's doing that anymore."

But it was his subsequent comments in The Shade Room's comments section that left fans reeling. Nelly boasted about his charitable work and claimed to have helped countless black families through his non-profit organizations.

"I'll put whatever up me and Snoop do more in the community and have been doing for over 20+ years against any of you that are just on here talking trash and have no stats to back up what you mean to the community," he boasted.

Nelly - who recently welcomed a child with singer Ashanti - also slammed fans 'dumping on black men married to black women' because Harris lost the election

But fans were quick to point out that Nelly's claims seemed exaggerated, if not entirely fabricated. And when asked about his performance at Trump's inauguration ball, he insisted that it was all about showing respect for the office of the presidency – and nothing more.

"I did not campaign for anyone," he claimed. "I do not tell people who to vote for."

But fans were not buying it. Many accused Nelly of being a hypocrite, defending a president with a long history of racist and divisive policies. And when asked about Trump's past actions, including his infamous comments on racial segregation in the 1970s, Nelly seemed completely unaware or unconcerned.

Fans quickly piled onto Nelly in the comments and accused him of being a hypocrite

"I'm not saying that he ain't got some f**ked up ways," he admitted, "but what I'm saying is that he's the president of the United States. He's not the candidate for the United States, He's the president."

The fallout from Nelly's comments has been swift and intense, with fans on social media calling for a boycott of his upcoming tour, Where The Party At. "I won't be supporting this mess," one fan declared. "Hope MAGA buy your tickets to the has-been tour."

But not everyone is condemning Nelly's behavior. Some fans have come out in support of the rapper, praising him for standing up to the "hate and intolerance" on social media.

"Nelly is a class act," one fan wrote. "He's always seen through the garbage."

As for Kamala Harris, she has yet to respond to Nelly's scathing comments. But it's clear that her reputation as a tough and effective prosecutor will not be easily forgotten – especially by those who have been impacted by her work.

In the end, Nelly's tirade against Kamala Harris may have sparked controversy, but it also raised important questions about the role of artists in politics and the complexities of social justice. One thing is clear: Nelly is not backing down anytime soon.

When asked about accusation he was 'propping up a white supremacist?' Nelly replied 'I would ask them to show me where he's a white supremacist'

Nelly received praise from Black and white commenters

Many agreed with his decision to 'respect the office' of President

A longtime Trump supporter said she could relate to Nelly's comments

Another congratulated the rapper for 'being able to see things clearly and think for himself!'

One commenter to Nelly's Instagram page called him 'misinformed' and suggested he check out Project 2025

Many other said they would not be supporting Nelly's upcoming Where The Party Tour in which he would be headlining with Eve and Ja Rule