British rapper M.I.A. has revealed that when she signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label in 2012, the iconic rapper advised her to undergo plastic surgery. In a recently surfaced video, M.I.A. (born Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam) shared her thoughts on the controversial encounter, dismissing claims that her decision to avoid surgery was rooted in insecurity.
“Even when I met Jay-Z and signed to Roc Nation, the first thing he told me to do was get plastic surgery,” M.I.A. said in the video, which was obtained by Livebitez. She clarified that she was not insecure, stating that if she had been, she would have gone through with the surgery. “The argument that I’m insecure and need to ‘massage my ego’ fails. It fails because you look around, and what women do you know around Jay-Z who haven’t had plastic surgery? All of them have. I’m the only one who didn’t, which proves it’s not insecurity,” she explained.
The singer, now 49, joined Roc Nation in May 2012 as part of preparations for her fourth album Matangi. However, her relationship with the label soured, and in December 2013, she announced her departure after the label pulled a trailer for a documentary about the making of the album.
M.I.A.’s comments come amid ongoing legal troubles for Jay-Z. Recently, the 55-year-old rapper was accused of involvement in a 2000 rape case in an amended lawsuit filed by a woman identified only as Jane Doe. The plaintiff claims that she was raped by Jay-Z and fellow rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs at a house party when she was 13 years old.
Jay-Z has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “heinous” and accusing lawyer Tony Buzbee of attempting to blackmail him. “What [Buzbee] had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z said. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion.”
The rapper, who is married to Beyoncé and has three children, expressed his heartbreak over the situation, particularly the impact on his family. “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age.”
As of now, a representative for Jay-Z has not commented on M.I.A.’s remarks regarding plastic surgery.
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