Nicki Minaj’s Husband Kenneth Petty Just Got Arrested — Here’s Why
Despite being married to one of the most famous entertainers in the world, Kenneth Petty seems to try his hardest to stay out of the spotlight. He appears to have no aspirations of fame and generally keeps a low profile. But he still made headlines on March 4 after reportedly being arrested by U.S. Marshals in California. Here’s what happened.
The reason Kenneth Petty got arrested
According to TMZ, Petty was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender in California, where he moved from New York in July 2019. But this drama dates back a few months.
His legal troubles reportedly began back in November when an officer pulled him over and realized he hadn’t registered as a sex offender in the state. Petty was arrested and eventually released on a $20,000 bond under the condition that he complete the registration. Authorities claim he never did and took him into federal custody on March 4, per TMZ.
The outlet reported that Petty later appeared before a judge and pleaded not guilty. He was expected to post a $100,000 bond at some point during the day.
Following his release, Petty will reportedly have to wear an ankle monitor, adhere to a curfew, and give up his passport. He is also prohibited from leaving Southern California and using drugs such as marijuana — even though it is legal in the state.
A closer look at Kenneth Petty’s criminal history
This all stems from Petty’s 1995 conviction for attempted rape. The alleged incident happened when he and the victim were 16, with prosecutors alleging that Petty used a sharp object during the encounter.
He reportedly served about four years in prison for the crime before being released in the late ’90s, per TMZ.
As a result, Petty is a registered, Level 2 sex offender in New York. Authorities determined that he had a medium risk of committing another offense.
Beyond that, Petty has allegedly been arrested for everything ranging from driving with a suspended license to manslaughter.
Nicki Minaj has defended Kenneth Petty
When Petty’s criminal history resurfaced in December 2018 — the month he and Nicki Minaj went public with their relationship — she took to social media and took up for him.
“He was 15, she was 16. In a relationship,” she wrote. “But go awf Internet. Y’all can’t run my life. Y’all can’t even run y’all own life. Thank you boo.”
Fans have continued to criticize Petty, though, with some going as far as to say that the “MEGATRON” rapper lowered her standards by dating him. Nicki Minaj addressed those claims in a later appearance on her Apple Beats 1 show Queen Radio and declared that it’s not the case.
“When a person is with a n*gga that loved them before they had a dime in their pocket?” the rapper asked in regards to Petty — her childhood sweetheart whom she reconnected with in late 2018. “How do you not understand that? How do you not understand happiness versus clout?” she continued. “How f*cking dare you talk about lowering standards.”
Despite the criticism, she went on to marry Petty in a secret ceremony in October 2019. She has continued to defend him and stand by his side — no matter what.
Read more: The Real Reason Nicki Minaj and Her Husband Got Into a Fight with Her Ex Meek Mill
