Who is Kenneth Petty?
Last updated
Nicki Minaj's husband is Kenneth Petty, a Queens native she dated as a teenager and married in October 2019. They share a son born in 2020, though split rumors have circulated through 2026 without confirmation from either.
Quick facts
- Full name
- Kenneth Petty
- Born
- 1978, Queens, New York
- Married
- October 21, 2019
- Child
- Son ("Papa Bear"), born September 30, 2020
- Criminal record
- 1995 attempted rape conviction; 2006 first-degree manslaughter plea; 2022 federal sentence for failing to register
- Status
- Married; 2026 split rumors unconfirmed
Why people are searching for Kenneth Petty
Petty's court record and Minaj's fame have made the marriage a running story since 2019, and registry-address changes in spring 2026 set off a fresh round of divorce speculation that neither has addressed.
About Kenneth Petty
Kenneth "Zoo" Petty and Nicki Minaj go back decades — they dated as teenagers in Queens before her fame, then reconnected in late 2018. They obtained a marriage license and wed on October 21, 2019, and their son, whom Minaj publicly calls "Papa Bear," was born on September 30, 2020.
Petty's criminal record is a matter of public court filings and has been reported by every major outlet covering the marriage. In 1995, he was convicted of the attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl in New York and served roughly four and a half years in prison, a conviction that requires him to register as a sex offender. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 2002 shooting death of Lamont Robinson in Queens; he was sentenced to 10 years and served seven before his release in 2013.
After moving to California with Minaj in 2019, Petty failed to register with the state, which is a federal offense for someone with his conviction. He pleaded guilty in 2021, and in 2022 a federal judge sentenced him to three years' probation, a year of home detention, and a $55,000 fine.
Where the marriage stands now is genuinely unclear. In April 2026, reports that Petty's sex-offender registry address had changed to a Queens residence fueled divorce speculation, and outlets noted Minaj had gone quiet about him on social media. The pair were later seen together at a FIFA World Cup match, which cut the other way. Neither has addressed the rumors, and no divorce filing has been reported.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nicki Minaj's husband?
Kenneth Petty, a Queens native she dated as a teenager. They reconnected in 2018, married on October 21, 2019, and have a son born in September 2020.
Are Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty still together?
Officially, yes — no divorce filing has been reported and neither has commented. An April 2026 change to Petty's registered address sparked split rumors, but the two were later seen together at a FIFA World Cup match.
What is Kenneth Petty's criminal history?
He was convicted of attempted rape of a 16-year-old in 1995, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 2006 (serving seven years of a 10-year sentence), and in 2022 received probation, home detention, and a $55,000 fine for failing to register as a sex offender in California.
Do Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty have children?
One son, born September 30, 2020. Minaj hasn't shared his name publicly and refers to him as "Papa Bear."
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Sources
- NBC News — Nicki Minaj's husband sentenced to home confinement for failing to register as sex offender
- CBS Los Angeles — Nicki Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty, sentenced for failing to register as sex offender
- Newsweek — Why Did the Police Arrest Nicki Minaj's Husband Kenneth Petty?
- IBTimes UK — Are Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty Together?