The Internet was quickly set alight on Thursday when it when she told a fan on Instagram they were an item. But according to TMZ, a source close to the hitmaker has revealed that she was only joking about the romance, reports dailymail.co.uk. The 35-year-old star had taken to Instagram to promote a new single. One of her followers boldly enquired: "You dating Eminem?" She wrote back: "Yes."

But sources close to Minaj say she was only joking.  "There's nothing romantic between the two." Minaj and Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers III, have long known each other, as they worked together on her hit 2010 single "Roman's revenge".

Both rappers are thought to be single as Nicki parted ways with fellow New York MC Nas after a months-long romance last year, reports Stuff, while Eminem previously admitted he finds it "tough" to date, turning to apps like Tinder to try and meet new women.

"Since my divorce I've had a few dates and nothing's panned out in a way that I wanted to make it public," he explained to Vulture in December. "Dating's just not where I'm at lately."

With Inputs from IANS

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 26, 2018 10:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).