Nicki Minaj: Rihanna and I were never lovers

US hip hop artist Nicki Minaj admitted in 2011 that she and good friend Rihanna enjoyed a bit of a grope.

'Rihanna heard my song Fly and loved it,' Nicki, 30, told i-D magazine.

'She sang it beautifully, so now when I see her she of course teasingly fondles me.

'She fondled me at the MTV Awards and the America Music Awards.'

'I love her.'

The singers fuelled rumoured they were lesbian lovers with saucy Tweets, but Nicki admits their flirtation was all a bit of a laugh.

'People still didn't realise were were joking,' Nicki tells Celebs On Sunday.

'They were saying, "Oh my God, you're so lucky. You and Rihanna!" It was hilarious.'

Nicki Minaj