Did Nicki Minaj take a subtle shot at Beyoncé?

That’s the burning question stirring heated debate between the Barbz and the BeyHive after a cryptic post from Nicki went viral on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, July 13.

Nicki’s post referenced a mechanical bull, a detail Beyoncé fans quickly latched onto as shade toward Bey’s ongoing “Cowboy Carter” Tour, where she’s been riding a mechanical bull on stage as part of the show’s Western theme. The post reads:

“The bull I ride is not mechanical.”

While that lyric is a direct quote from Nicki’s own 2023 track, “Cowgirl,” the timing of the post raised eyebrows. Just hours earlier, JAY-Z made headlines by joining Beyoncé onstage during the Atlanta stop of her tour — a rare public appearance that came not long after Nicki accused JAY-Z of allegedly cheating her out of millions during their past TIDAL streaming deal.

you could never look this good btw pic.twitter.com/0PpSAXCJlJ

— ⟢ ◞ KHALIL (@beydores) July 13, 2025

The Fan Reaction: Barbz vs. BeyHive

The BeyHive quickly took offense, interpreting the post as a veiled jab at Beyoncé. However, Nicki’s fiercely loyal Barbz were quick to defend her, noting that she was simply quoting her own music and that any connection to Beyoncé was being fabricated by overzealous fans.

Despite these defenses, many noted that Nicki choosing this particular lyric, on this particular night, was unlikely to be a coincidence. The post sparked a frenzy of reactions, memes, and heated exchanges between the two fanbases across social media.

No Official Response From Beyoncé or Nicki

Its the lyrics of her own song illiterate bum btc

— Red.ruby❤️‍🔥🥡🥢 (@ltsmkfrr) July 15, 2025

bitch y’all love acting obtuse….even if she said this in a song the timing is what we’re talking about…..

— 𐚁 (@teabodybey) July 13, 2025

As of now, neither Beyoncé nor Nicki Minaj has commented publicly on the situation. Both artists have largely avoided direct shots at one another in the past, but this latest exchange has only intensified ongoing fan-driven narratives about alleged tension between the two music superstars.

Because it’s HER song, HER page, and she was discussing HER tour. Calling ppl deranged when you’re struggling to pin shade from Nicki to Beyonce is crazy asf. Like genuine retardation.

— Geovanni (@ProvidedbyGeo) July 14, 2025

Update:

As of July 15, no further public statements have been made by either artist. However, Nicki Minaj has since liked a tweet defending her post as “just a bar from an old song” and “not a shot at anyone.” Meanwhile, some Beyoncé fans continue to suggest the post was intentional shade in light of Nicki’s recent frustrations with JAY-Z and her longstanding history of cryptic social media moments.

Industry insiders have remained silent, fueling speculation but providing no clear answers. For now, it seems the debate is firmly in the hands of the Barbz and BeyHive.