In an interview with Rolling Stone, Nicki Minaj confirmed what many fans had questioned: she had an abortion while she was in high school. While Minaj doesn't say she regrets the decision, she did say that it "haunts" her to this day.

Minaj had previously alluded to an unborn child in her song "All Things Go."

From Rolling Stone:

When she discovered she was pregnant, "I thought I was going to die," she admits. "I was a teenager. It was the hardest thing I'd ever gone through." She ended up having an abortion, a decision she says has "haunted me all my life," though it was the right choice for her at the time. "It'd be contradictory if I said I wasn't pro-choice. I wasn't ready. I didn't have anything to offer a child."

My heart aches for her--it's sad that Minaj felt like she had no other option but to have an abortion. I admire her bravery in speaking honestly about a very difficult subject. While websites spout claims that women "rarely" feel guilt or shame after an abortion, it's clear that some women do--and their stories should be heard. Organizations like Rachel's Vineyard exist to help women and men who are suffering after abortion, and I hope Minaj is able to receive help to deal with her mental anguish.