Don Lemon Fires Back at Nicki Minaj Over Controversial Homophobic Post
A heated online clash has erupted between rapper Nicki Minaj and journalist Don Lemon after a controversial incident in Minnesota. The dispute began over the weekend when Lemon, formerly of CNN, was reporting on a protest outside a church in St. Paul. The demonstration targeted a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official attending a service. Lemon captured the scene for his independent reporting platform, but not everyone was pleased with his coverage.
Nicki Minaj took to X, to express outrage at Lemon’s reporting. In an all-caps post, she attacked the journalist and called for legal action. “DON ‘C*** SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!!” she wrote. She argued that Lemon had disrespected the religious setting of the church.
Minaj went further, claiming that Lemon singled out Christianity. “HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!” Her aggressive posts sparked widespread debate online about the boundaries of journalism and protest coverage.
Don Lemon responded quickly on the I’ve Had It Podcast on January 19. Co-host Jennifer Welch read Minaj’s tweet, and Lemon offered a blunt rebuttal. “Nicki Minaj is not a Christian. She knows nothing about a Christian,” he said. He also criticized her intentions, calling her “a grifter.”
Lemon argued that Minaj exploits her fans rather than serving them. “Nicki Minaj doesn’t care about black people. She doesn’t care about gay people,” he said, referring to groups that form much of her core audience. He added that she uses these communities for personal gain.
The journalist made it clear he doesn’t respect her music either. “If we were in the day where we…where we bought records, I would be burning Nicki Minaj’s records today,” he said. “So, I’m so glad that I’ve never been a Nicki Minaj fan. I don’t know her music.” Lemon finished by calling her an “ignorant pick me” and emphasized that her work has no place on his playlist.
Don Lemon has been navigating a new stage in his career since leaving CNN in April 2023. After seventeen years at the network, where he anchored Don Lemon Tonight and co-anchored CNN This Morning, he launched The Don Lemon Show on X.
This platform allows him to cover news, politics, and culture independently. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism, which examines issues of race and civil rights.
Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, remains a dominant force in music. The rapper recently released Pink Friday 2, a sequel to her debut album, featuring collaborations with artists like Drake and J. Cole. She also completed a sold-out world tour. Outside of music, she has business ventures in fashion and fragrances and maintains a devoted fanbase known as the “Barbz.” She has had small voice acting roles in films like Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Angry Birds Movie 2, but her focus remains on her music career.
The clash between Lemon and Minaj has reignited discussions on social media about the role of journalists, the responsibility of celebrities, and the limits of public criticism. Lemon’s reporting highlights the challenges of covering protests, while Minaj’s response reflects the power of celebrity influence online.
Share your thoughts in the comments on whether you think Don Lemon went too far in his reporting or if Nicki Minaj overreacted with her social media posts.
