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‘Chucky’ creator slams Nicki Minaj and reveals doll is “anti-ICE”
Nicki Minaj shared an AI-generated image of Chucky wearing a “Vote Red” badge and urged fans to vote Republican in the US midterm elections. Chucky creator Don Mancini objected, saying the character backed Democrats, turning the post into a public clash over the doll’s political identity.
Mancini posted another image of Chucky with an “I Voted” sticker and said the character was “anti-ICE” and had a trans child, referring to the genderfluid Glen/Glenda storyline in *Seed of Chucky* (2004). Minaj has recently expressed support for Donald Trump, despite criticising him in 2016 and 2020; Jimmy Kimmel also mocked Trump’s response to Democratic election wins.
In short
- Minaj used Chucky in a post urging Republican votes.
- Creator Don Mancini said Chucky supports Democrats.
- Mancini cited the character’s genderfluid child and called Chucky anti-ICE.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Mancini’s objection can be understood as an artist asserting that a character’s meaning and history should not be repurposed to endorse politics he opposes. Chucky’s association with a genderfluid child and Mancini’s stated opposition to ICE give him a basis for describing the character as aligned with those values, while Minaj’s post could imply the creator’s endorsement of a message he rejects.
The case against
Minaj’s post can be seen as political expression using a widely recognised fictional character, rather than a claim that Mancini personally supports her views. Chucky is also interpreted by audiences in different ways, and a creator’s account of a character’s politics need not settle how fans engage with or parody that character.