Nicki Minaj stuns at Grammys

Nicki Minaj stunned the audience with a controversial performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

The female rapping sensation pushed the boat out with an elaborate show that contained multiple religious references.

The star was channelling her infamous alter-ego Roman Zolanski on stage as she performed a spooky version of her new single Roman Holiday, MTV reports.

Nicki walked the red carpet in a blood-red hooded Versace creation designed especially for her and accompanied by a man dressed as a pope.

Her outfit seemed to be referencing both a nun's habit and scarlet women, who were considered promiscuous females by the Roman Catholic church.

Causing a frenzy on Twitter with her red carpet skit, Nicki went on to shock viewers with her eerie performance.

The 29-year-old was seen surrounded by stained glass and other religious imagery before having an "exchange" with a pope-like figure in a pre-recorded VT.

She then took to the stage in a brown ball gown and was strapped to a leather table. Supported by a church choir, Nikki rapped to a gothic version of O Come, All Ye Faithful.

The climax of the performance saw the Pink Friday star being lifted into the venue's ceiling with an invisible rope, giving the impression she was levitating.

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