He’s Nicki Minaj‘s childhood sweetheart turned husband. But there’s so much more to learn about Kenneth “Zoo” Petty. Nicki’s husband, 42, has a storied and sordid criminal past that keeps catching up to him. And through it all, Nicki continues to stand by her man. Here’s what you need to know about Kenneth, his background, and his life with Nicki and their adorable baby boy.
When Did Nicki Minaj & Kenneth Petty Tie The Knot?
Kenneth and Nicki secretly married in October 2019, she revealed to shocked fans on Instagram. The Queen Radio host posted a cute video to Instagram showing off their wedding swag, including “Mr. & Mrs.” coffee mugs, and snapbacks that said “bride and groom.” Next to the table lay a pair of sky-high, glittery stilettos — presumably what the rapper wore when she said “I do” to her man. She simply captioned the October 21 post, “Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 10•21•19” (her full, married name) and added bride and groom emojis, as well as prayer hands and tears.
Kenneth & Nicki Met When They Were Teenagers
Kenneth and Nicki are actually teenage sweethearts who started dating when Nicki was 16 years old. They fell head over heels for each other. Nicki has said in the past that Kenneth was even one of her “first loves.” They feel out of contact over the years and rekindled their spark as adults. She felt “he’s changed since his checkered past,” according to TMZ. She backed that up in a 2019 tweet after it was revealed that they had picked up their marriage license, praising him for loving her for her, and not for being a superstar:
“He won’t even say the word ‘Nicki.’ He has called me Onika since I was 15 so it’s hard to change that,” Nicki wrote. “I wouldn’t date anyone cuz I’m about to be married to my soulmate. But that was the problem, others r infatuated w/ Nicki Minaj he DGAF about this industry & is very protective.”
Kenneth & Nicki Welcomed Their First Child In September 2020
Nicki announced her pregnancy in July 2020 with a stunning photoshoot on Instagram that revealed her full, bare baby bump. In the photos, a radiant Nicki cradled her bump while wearing a bejeweled bikini and gigantic, platform stilettos. Of course, Nicki picked out a number of candy-colored wigs for the pregnancy shoot, too. She simply captioned the shocking post “#Preggers.” Nicki gave birth to her and Kenneth’s son that September, and has spent the months since gushing over their absolutely adorable bundle of joy.
Nicki and Kenneth haven’t revealed their son’s name yet, but have nicknamed him “Papa Bear.” There was concern that Kenneth wouldn’t be present when Nicki gave birth at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles due to his legal problems, which included a court-mandated curfew. Much more on that below. So far, Nicki’s “loving every minute” of being a mother. She revealed on Twitter that she hasn’t even hired nannies yet for the little guy so she can be more “hands on.”
Kenneth Has A Long Criminal Record
Kenneth is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of first-degree attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl in 1995, and served time in a New York state prison for the crime. He was required to register as a sex offender in the state. His legal problems came to light when he and Nicki went public with their relationship in 2018. He got into trouble again in November 2019 during a traffic stop in Los Angeles.
After running his license, officers discovered that he wasn’t registered as a sex offender in the state of California — a requirement of his sentence. He was arrested in March 2020. While prosecutors wanted him placed under house arrest, he was instead required to wear an ankle monitor, abide by a curfew, and surrender his passport. Furthermore, he was barred from leaving Southern California or using drugs — even marijuana, which is legal for recreational use in California.
Kenneth Appeared In Two Of Nicki’s Music Videos
Kenneth, who goes by “Zoo” professionally, has made sultry cameos in two of his wife’s most famous music videos. Catch him in the spots for “MEGATRON” and “Hot Girl Summer,” her collab with Megan Thee Stallion. It’s a sweet gig for Kenneth, who’s said in the past that he wants to get more involved in the music industry in the future.
Kenneth’s Educational Background
Kenneth reportedly dropped out of high school and has not pursued any higher education. Wife Nicki, who went to LaGuardia High School in New York City with him, attended community college but did not receive a degree. She frequently tells her fans to get good grades and stay in school — and never skip class to see one of her concerts. In a July 2019 Instagram Live, Nicki said that her “only regret in life is not going to college.”
Kenneth’s Zodiac Sign Is Aries
Kenneth was born on April 7, 1978 In the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York. That makes him an Aries. His wife is a Sagittarius, which means they have high compatibility in both love and friendship, according to standard astrology charts.
How Many Kids Does Kenneth Really Have?
That’s still unclear. Aside from his son with Nicki, Kenneth reportedly has five other children from past relationships. He is “reportedly in the lives of all of his children,” according to MediaTakeOut.
Kenneth Grew Up In Queens, New York
Kenneth is a native New Yorker who spent his childhood in the famed Jamaica area of Queens. He is of African-American ethnicity. Details about his family life before Nicki aren’t well known, but it’s clear that they’ve made a family of their own. Just the two of them, and their darling baby boy.
Kenneth Wants To Work In The Music Industry
Kenneth reportedly wants to follow his wife’s footsteps and enter the music industry. His aspirations include producing new music with Nicki, and even one day becoming one of the biggest names in the game. MediaTakeOut reported in 2018 that Kenneth was “working on reforming his life and becoming a ‘top music executive.'”
