Hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj has launched a scathing verbal assault against veteran journalist Don Lemon, following his reporting on a protest that disrupted a religious service in Minnesota.
On Sunday (Jan. 18), the 43-year-old rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent her fury at the former CNN anchor. Her outburst was triggered by Lemon’s livestream from Cities Church in St. Paul. During the broadcast, demonstrators were seen interrupting the service to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials within the congregation.
In a vitriolic, all-caps post accompanied by an image of the horror character Chucky, Minaj demanded that Lemon be incarcerated. She accused him of targeting the church in a manner he would never apply to other religions, while labeling him with a homophobic slur.
The tension surrounding Cities Church stems from its leadership; David Easterwood, a pastor at the institution, also serves as the acting director for ICE’s Saint Paul Field Office, according to documentation recently obtained by People.
Lemon, who is openly gay and married to Tim Malone, responded to Minaj’s inflammatory remarks via TMZ. He dismissed her critique, stating that the rapper clearly lacks an understanding of professional journalism and is “weighing in on matters that are above her capacity.” He further suggested that a “Pick Me” doll would be a more fitting avatar for her online persona.
During a subsequent interview with TMZ Live, Lemon sharpened his rebuttal, describing Minaj as a “homophobic, bigoted ignorant woman” and advising her to “grow some brains.”
Unmoved by the backlash, Minaj returned to social media on Monday (Jan. 20) with a follow-up post featuring Chucky. She claimed her use of offensive language was a calculated tactic designed to force the media to cover Lemon’s actions. “I’m glad they’re angry,” she wrote. “They’re about to get angrier.”
This latest controversy adds to a turbulent period for Minaj. Last December, she faced significant criticism for her appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, where she praised Republican leadership. This political pivot sparked an online petition on Change.org, signed by thousands, calling for her deportation to her native Trinidad, as she recently confirmed she is not yet a U.S. citizen.
