Nicki Minaj blasts critics over axed gigs

Nicki Minaj has hit back at critics in an online rant after she axed three shows due to ongoing throat issues, insisting she was "in jeopardy" of completely losing her voice.

The Starships hitmaker revealed last week (begs13Aug12) she is suffering from a bruised vocal cord and was advised to rest her throat by medics.

She defied the orders and gave two free concerts in New York last Tuesday (14Aug12), prompting her voice problems to worsen, and she had to cancel her weekend (18-19Aug12) sets at Britain's V Festival.

Minaj has now axed her show in Dublin, Ireland, which was scheduled for Tuesday (21Aug12), but she's defended her decision to pull out of the gigs rather than sing through the pain.

In a series of posts on Twitter.com, she writes, "I am so thankful to my true fans who understand WHY I couldn't play VFestival + WHY I can't play Dublin. Absolutely gutted...

"I was in jeopardy of losing my voice entirely and needing surgery on my vocal chord (sic)... I will NOT let you people make me feel horrible for a HEALTH issue! That's what got me in this mess! I shldve (should have) listened 2 the doctor!"

Responding to suggestions from critics that she should lip-sync the concerts, she raged, "Like people are hitting me telling me I shldve (should have) mimed. No!... All you do is rip people apart and when they're dead + gone u won't lose a wink of sleep."