what did nicki minaj say about don lemon
Nicki Minaj recently slammed former CNN anchor Don Lemon on social media, calling him a “thug” and saying she wants him jailed after his coverage of a church protest in Minnesota.
What Nicki Minaj Said
Nicki reacted to Lemon’s reporting on an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service, accusing him of disrespecting Christianity. In a heated post on X, she called him a “thug” and wrote that she wanted “that thug in jail,” adding “LOCK HIM UP!!!!!” while arguing he would never treat other religions the same way.
She framed her comments as defending Christians, tying it to broader concerns about Christian persecution globally, something she has posted about before. Nicki has also previously praised President Donald Trump for saying the U.S. would look into violence against Christians in Nigeria, saying no group should be persecuted for its faith.
The Homophobic Slur Controversy
Beyond calling Lemon a “thug,” Nicki also used a homophobic slur against him in another post, referring to him as a “cocksucker,” which sparked strong backlash online. Many social media users and commentators criticized her language as hateful and dangerous toward LGBTQ+ people.
Her wording led some outlets and forum discussions to describe the whole episode as a “fiery homophobic rant,” emphasizing that the issue was not just about religion but also about her choice of slur. This has intensified debates about homophobia in hip‑hop and about how public figures speak about journalists they disagree with.
Don Lemon’s Response
Don Lemon has fired back publicly, both on TV segments and in interviews. He has called Nicki Minaj a “homophobic bigot,” saying she is “ignorant,” “out of her depth,” and that she should “sit the f*** down,” “get a life and grow some brains.”
Lemon also argued that, given her support for Donald Trump, “under Trump’s rule, she should be deported,” mocking her political alignment and accusing her of being a “pickme” who does whatever is politically expedient. He additionally questioned why LGBTQ+ fans still support her, urging them to stop backing someone he views as openly homophobic.
Why This Is Trending Now
This clash is trending because it mixes celebrity drama, politics, religion, and LGBTQ+ issues in one viral moment. It grew out of protests in Minnesota after a police shooting, where anti‑ICE and other activists entered a church and Lemon covered the event, prompting Nicki’s angry reaction.
Since mid‑January 2026, the story has spread across entertainment sites, mainstream news, and forums, with people debating whether Nicki is defending her faith or simply attacking a journalist with bigoted language. The back‑and‑forth has also reignited broader conversations about how celebrities use their platforms when speaking on sensitive political and social issues.
TL;DR: Nicki Minaj blasted Don Lemon for his coverage of a church protest, calling him a “thug,” saying he should be jailed, and using a homophobic slur, which led Lemon to publicly label her a “homophobic bigot” and tell her to “sit the f*** down” as their feud went viral.
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