Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, has been granted approval by a California District Judge to travel internationally for Minaj’s upcoming Pink Friday 2 tour. This decision comes despite Petty’s status as a registered sex offender due to a past conviction for attempted rape in 1995.
The incident involving Petty occurred when he and Jennifer Hough, both 16 years old at the time, were involved in an assault where Hough claimed Petty tried to assault her at knife point. Petty served four years in prison for this offense and was subsequently ordered to register as a sex offender.
In March 2020, he faced additional legal troubles for failing to register and was placed under house arrest, fined $50,000, and given three years of probation.
Petty’s recent motion for international travel was made in light of his completion of house arrest and apparent compliance with probation terms. The motion, obtained by The Daily Beast, cited the necessity for Petty to accompany his wife on tour for purposes including childcare, with travel dates scheduled from April 17th to July 14th.
Legal experts like Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, noted that the government’s lack of opposition likely influenced the judge’s decision to grant the travel request. Rahmani emphasized that Petty had fulfilled his house arrest and generally adhered to probation terms, making his request more plausible in the eyes of the court.
The judge’s approval of Petty’s travel comes with conditions, requiring him to keep his probation officer informed of his itinerary and to check in upon returning to Los Angeles County. However, there are concerns regarding Petty’s ability to enter certain countries due to his status as a sex offender.
Former federal prosecutor Duncan Levin explained that countries like Canada and the UK have strict rules for admitting individuals with criminal records, particularly regarding sex offenses. Petty’s entry into these countries may require special permissions or waivers based on the necessity of travel and individual circumstances.
Despite potential challenges, Levin suggested that exceptions could be made in specific cases if Petty can demonstrate legitimate reasons for travel. The decision on entry to countries like Canada and the UK would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.