One of Nicki Minaj's backup dancers was bitten by a six-foot-long snake during rehearsals for the MTV Video Music Awards. According to MTV, the unidentified dancer had a boa constrictor draped around her shoulders when the reptile bit the inside of her left arm. Minaj and her dancers were practicing for her performance of "Anaconda."
The rapper was on stage at the time of the incident but was not hurt. Sources told MTV that Minaj was extremely upset and wanted to make sure the dancer was ok. Immediately after the incident, the music stopped playing and the snake's handler rushed on stage to remove the boa.
The dancer was treated at the venue by an on-site medic and then taken to a nearby hospital out of "an abundance of caution," said Chris Velvin, director of production safety for Viacom Media Networks.
"It's in no way life-threatening, but scary," Velvin told MTV. "We wanted her to start getting treatment as soon as possible."
The snake's handler said the boa constrictor, named Rocky, has been in the entertainment business for 15 years and had never bitten someone before. According to MTV, at press time it was announced that a different snake, either another boa or a python, would be used during Minaj's live performance on Sunday.
The music video to "Anaconda" debuted earlier in the week to some positive and negative reviews. Drake even made an appearance at the end of the video when Minaj sat him down in a chair and danced for him.
"Anaconda" is her second single from her upcoming album "The Pinkprint," which still doesn't have a release date. The first single, "Pills N Potions," was released in May.
