Nicki Minaj’s major wardrobe malfunction at the MTV Video Music Awards may have been a publicity stunt for attention.

TMZ reports sources claimed they watched the rapper rehearse her VMA set, and she was practicing holding her robe in the same way she did with the black dress:

Eyewitnesses who watched Nicki's rehearsal Sunday morning tell TMZ she walked on stage wearing the same dress -- unzipped. One eyewitness says it caught her eye because she initially thought Nicki had come out in a robe.

We're told Nicki was wrapping her arms around the dress in a "weird" sort of way ... trying to manipulate it to see how much would be exposed.

The VMA staff reportedly created a dressing room for Minaj so she would have time to change and get back on stage. TMZ’s insiders claim the rapper’s excuse of not having enough time to zip her dress was a lie.

However, it is also a possibility Minaj could’ve been rehearsing for her worst-case scenario if she failed to get into the dress zipped in time.

E! News reports Minaj addressed her wardrobe malfunction backstage at the VMAs. The rapper yelled at reports claiming her dress refused to zip up. Minah also took to Instagram to talk about her dress situation.

"God is good. As long as a nipple didn't come out to play, I'm fine," Minaj wrote in an Instagram post. "Love my team. CASPER, Rushka, Adam, Oscar, Joyce, Gee...Many more to name but they're all winners! No weak links.

“There's no greater feeling than having ppl who inspire u and who work passionately and relentlessly to get the job done…The myx is starting to make me feel real good right now. Thank [you] to Slim, Richelle, Katina and the entire REPUBLIC team."