Nicki Minaj vs. Lil Kim Beef, Taraji P. Henson 'Empire' Diss Sparks Twitter Mayhem: Cookie Lyon’s Champion NOT 'Copycat' Rapper, Meek Mill's 'The PinkPrint' Lover Blasted?

The new hip-hop drama series "Empire" is taking television by storm. And according to starring actress Taraji P. Henson, main character Cookie Lyon is inspired by only one "true" female champion of rap. And that is NOT Nicki Minaj...

In a recent interview with Vogue, Henson insinuates that Minaj is merely Lil Kim's ultimate "copycat" -

"[Lil] Kim is everything. Today it's Nicki Minaj, but Nicki Minaj got everything from Kim. Kim came on the scene and made everything change for women-she made it feminine and sexy and hardcore. She was a champion, and she's certainly Cookie's champion."

Surely Henson didn't intentionally mean to "diss" the "Anaconda" twerker, but several Twitter fans immediately went on the defense:

AnthonyMinaj_: "Why Taraji brought up Nicki when Kim was mentioned is beyond me. These comparisons are really tired."

@NotoriousH_I_M_: "I wish Taraji didn't bring up Nicki Minaj in that interview."

@Boothie___: "What exactly did Nicki get from kim? Plz let me know... Ms Taraji."

@OsirisTheGawd: "I love Taraji p. Henson. But her bringing up Nicki's name in that article was stupid."

@iiRomeROCKSTARR: "Though It Probably Could've Been Worded Differently, I See No Shade Thrown Towards Nicki In What Taraji Said."

@sayTruuuth: "Why did she even bring up Nicki? She wasn't even in the question. Taraji can get slapped, fr."

@OsirisTheGawd: "... Waits for Taraji p. Henson to try to clear up what she said about Nicki..."

@MsMinajestylove: "ok taraji needs 2 hop off kim's d*ck and leave nicki out of her mouth... ok u love and praise lil kim but no need 2 bring down nicki 2 do it."

#Barbz unite!

Well, the "Flawess" emcee definitely took Henson's words as a compliment:

@LilKim: "OMG! I live for @TherealTaraji . She gives me life! She's an amazing actress. Thank you for the beautiful kind words. <3 Ya."

It's no secret that Kim and Minaj are bitter "frenemies" within the industry... now the 40-year-old "Queen Bee" apparently has the upper hand again! 

The PinkPrint superstar has yet to mention anything about Henson's "shade" on social media... she's too busy hyping her own new music (and blossoming romance with Meek Mill):

nickiminaj: "The Pinkprint is the #1 Rap Album on Billboard again, thanks to u!"

Check-out Henson's full interview here.