The 'Anaconda' rapper — known for her shocking performancesThe 'Anaconda' rapper — known for her shocking performances and wild antics — said LaGuardia High School's principal turned her down for no reason when she offered to go back and speak to students. But an official from New York City's Department of Education told the Daily News the proposal was part of an MTV film shoot and would interfere with school.
“Anaconda” singer Nicki Minaj claims her famous high school told her to slither away when she came knocking this week — but sources said the school couldn’t accommodate the raunchy rapper’s schedule.
The twerk-tastic star took to Twitter on Thursday to say her alma mater, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, nixed her offer to show up and dish about her rise in the music biz.
“I wanted to go back to my HS and speak to students but the new principal declined,” she tweeted to her 18 million followers. “No need to inspire them, I guess.”
The Queens-raised singer said she wanted to “pay it forward” to a school that changed her life.
Several LaGuardia students on social media quickly vowed a protest, but sources said Minaj didn’t tell the whole story. The proposed visit was part of an MTV production involving a film crew — making it a non-starter on short notice, an education official told the Daily News.
The source said MTV wanted to film during after-school programs, and during a tight window, while Minaj was in New York. Principal Lisa Mars and DOE officials agreed the shoot would “directly” interfere with instruction.
“We suggested alternative times for the singer to appear at the school, such as a weekend date. She and MTV declined because of her tight schedule,” the source said.
One mom said it was a particularly bad week.
“The school would definitely want her, but it was very last-minute, and protocol in public schools is no joke, especially with the Sept. 11 anniversary,” mom Ilene Sofferman told The News.
Students leaving class Friday voiced their disappointment that the 31-year-old singer wouldn’t be showing up.
“All the students are really upset about it. They think she’s a really inspiring person. She barely had anything, and she made it all the way to the top," said a 16-year-old senior who gave her name as Mai.
Minaj is hardly the first superstar to consider her high school experience good material. Lady Gaga returned to Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan to interact with students for a 2011 ABC Thanksgiving special.
One LaGuardia student scolded Minaj for her tweets.
“I think it was a little unfair that (Minaj) put our principal on blast. It wasn’t her, it was the DOE that said no,” Sonia Edwards, 18, said.
At least one LaGuardia parent said Minaj was wrong to seek special treatment.
“(We have) a STRICT policy about not allowing ANY camera crews to be in the school without permission slips from every parent. That would not have been possible, and Nicki Minaj did not want to speak to the students without her camera crew,” said the parent, who works for the city and asked to remain anonymous because she wasn’t authorized to speak on the matter.
With Stephen Rex Brown
ndillon@nydailynews.com
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