<p>A coronavirus briefing in Britain took an unexpected turn when the country's buttoned-up chief medical officer and prime minister found themselves talking about Nicki Minaj, vaccine hesitancy and her cousin's friend's supposedly swollen testicles.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his chief medical officer Chris Whitty were drawn into a debate about the global rap superstar after she revealed to her 22.6 million Twitter followers she had not yet been vaccinated.</p>.<p>Being jabbed was a requirement for attendance at this week's glamorous New York fashion event the Met Gala, she said, indicating she was doing her own research on jabs.</p>.<p>Minaj then shared a story about a cousin in Trinidad who refused to be vaccinated because his friend got jabbed, became impotent and got swollen testicles.</p>.<p>Whitty, 55, the face of Britain's coronavirus response not previously known for his knowledge of celebrities, did not skip a beat when he was asked about Minaj's comments at a Covid question and answer session on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous," he told reporters.</p>.<p>"Some... are clearly designed just to scare. That happens to be one of them."</p>.<p>Instead, he said he was encouraged that most people were ignoring myths and getting jabbed, and hit out anyone knowingly "peddling untruths".</p>.<p>"In my view, they should be ashamed," he added.</p>.<p>Classically educated Johnson, 57, who regularly peppers his speeches with Latin, stuttered that he was "not as familiar with the works of Nicki Minaj as I probably should be".</p>.<p>Instead, he said he preferred to listen to another woman of the same name, "superstar GP" Nikki Kanani, who has been closely involved in the government's Covid vaccine campaign.</p>.<p>The straight-talking Minaj later sent Johnson a voice message, in an English accent, claiming she was born in Britain and went to university with Margaret Thatcher -- both untrue.</p>.<p>Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Wednesday he did not want to give the comments "the oxygen of publicity", and called for public figures to be responsible in their comments.</p>.<p>"Reshuffle gossip: Health Secretary Minaj," suggested one Twitter user on Wednesday, as rumours again swirled that Johnson was about to rearrange his cabinet.</p>.<p>"That will enable Cardi B to move to the Treasury and Kardashian to Environment," replied another, referring to reality TV superstar Kim Kardashian.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here:</strong><br /><br /></p>
<p>A coronavirus briefing in Britain took an unexpected turn when the country's buttoned-up chief medical officer and prime minister found themselves talking about Nicki Minaj, vaccine hesitancy and her cousin's friend's supposedly swollen testicles.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his chief medical officer Chris Whitty were drawn into a debate about the global rap superstar after she revealed to her 22.6 million Twitter followers she had not yet been vaccinated.</p>.<p>Being jabbed was a requirement for attendance at this week's glamorous New York fashion event the Met Gala, she said, indicating she was doing her own research on jabs.</p>.<p>Minaj then shared a story about a cousin in Trinidad who refused to be vaccinated because his friend got jabbed, became impotent and got swollen testicles.</p>.<p>Whitty, 55, the face of Britain's coronavirus response not previously known for his knowledge of celebrities, did not skip a beat when he was asked about Minaj's comments at a Covid question and answer session on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous," he told reporters.</p>.<p>"Some... are clearly designed just to scare. That happens to be one of them."</p>.<p>Instead, he said he was encouraged that most people were ignoring myths and getting jabbed, and hit out anyone knowingly "peddling untruths".</p>.<p>"In my view, they should be ashamed," he added.</p>.<p>Classically educated Johnson, 57, who regularly peppers his speeches with Latin, stuttered that he was "not as familiar with the works of Nicki Minaj as I probably should be".</p>.<p>Instead, he said he preferred to listen to another woman of the same name, "superstar GP" Nikki Kanani, who has been closely involved in the government's Covid vaccine campaign.</p>.<p>The straight-talking Minaj later sent Johnson a voice message, in an English accent, claiming she was born in Britain and went to university with Margaret Thatcher -- both untrue.</p>.<p>Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Wednesday he did not want to give the comments "the oxygen of publicity", and called for public figures to be responsible in their comments.</p>.<p>"Reshuffle gossip: Health Secretary Minaj," suggested one Twitter user on Wednesday, as rumours again swirled that Johnson was about to rearrange his cabinet.</p>.<p>"That will enable Cardi B to move to the Treasury and Kardashian to Environment," replied another, referring to reality TV superstar Kim Kardashian.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest DH videos here:</strong><br /><br /></p>