M.I.A. Claims Jay-Z Urged Her to Get Plastic Surgery After Roc Nation Deal [Video]

Former Roc Nation artist M.I.A. has stirred up conversation on social media after claiming that Jay-Z, founder of the entertainment agency, advised her to get plastic surgery when she signed with the label. The British-Sri Lankan rapper and activist, known for hits like “Paper Planes,” shared the allegations during a candid video rant about her confidence and career.

“Even when I met Jay-Z and I signed to Roc Nation, the first thing he told me to do is get plastic surgery,” M.I.A. revealed. Despite the suggestion, she says she refused.

“I’m not insecure because I would have got plastic surgery,” she explained. “So their argument of ‘Maya’s insecure, that’s why she needs to massage her ego,’ fails. It fails because you turn around and ask… What women do you know who hasn’t had plastic surgery around you? All of them have. I’m the only one who didn’t.”

The artist, who turned 50 this year, emphasized her resilience in an industry often criticized for pressuring women to conform to specific beauty standards. “If I was insecure, I would have done that a hundred times over,” M.I.A. stated. She pointed to her unconventional path to success, reflecting on how her career took off later than many of her peers.

“I’m totally fine with the fact that I am [50], because guess what? I fing took off when I was 30,” she said. “It took 10 more fing years than any other fer because I was the first and I was the new. I was making something interesting happen that wasn’t fing happening before.”

Known for her unapologetic persona and boundary-pushing artistry, M.I.A. continues to use her platform to speak out on societal and industry issues. Her latest revelations have sparked debates about body image, self-confidence, and the pressures placed on women in entertainment.