Madame Tussauds has been forced to increase security monitoring of its waxwork of pop star Nicki Minaj, following a number of visitors taking photos of themselves in suggestive poses with the display and posting them online over the last few weeks.

The waxwork, of Minaj on all fours with her butt in the air as a tribute to her ‘Anaconda’ video, was unveiled in Las Vegas last month. However, some people have been taking it upon themselves to take snaps of themselves posing with the model, including some in sexually provocative positions.

Nicki MinajNicki Minaj's waxwork in Madame Tussauds, Las Vegas

“It is unfortunate that this visitor decided to behave so inappropriately and we apologise for any offence this has caused,” the museum said on Wednesday (August 19th). “We do have staff monitoring guest behaviour in the attraction and do our utmost to ensure our wax figures are treated respectfully, but on this occasion clearly one of of our hosts was not present.”

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However, Minaj herself has suggested that she thinks at least some of these fan photos are funny, posting her approval with comments and emojis. But she hasn’t commented on the one photo that's attracted a big backlash, of a man mounting the figure from behind and pulling its hair.

Madame Tussauds has always encouraged people to take selfies with the displays, as part of an “interactive, immersive experience”, it has reminded visitors that the waxworks are to be “treated respectfully”.

When the waxwork was introduced earlier in August, some of her fans – including rapper Azealia Banks – anticipated that this kind of thing would start happening. “All ppl are gonna do is go up to that statue and take pictures shoving their crotch in her face and putting their crotch on her butt,” Banks tweeted.

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