Nicki Minaj Criticizes Don Lemon Over Minnesota ICE Protest Coverage

Nicki Minaj sharply criticized independent journalist Don Lemon after he reported on a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota.

The 43-year-old rapper took to X on Sunday (Jan. 18) to attack the former CNN anchor, 59, following his livestream from Cities Church in St. Paul. Demonstrators interrupted the service to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to TMZ.

“DON ‘C—K SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING,” Minaj wrote in an all-caps post alongside an image of Chucky from Child’s Play. “HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!”

David Easterwood, listed as a pastor on the Cities Church website, is also identified as acting director of ICE’s Saint Paul Field Office, according to a Dec. 19 cease-and-desist notice obtained by People.

Lemon, who is openly gay and married to real estate agent Tim Malone, clapped back at Minaj’s remarks in a statement to TMZ.

“I’m not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity,” he told the outlet. “However, the more appropriate image for her post is a ‘Pick Me’ Doll.”

In another interview with TMZ Live, Lemon added that the rapper needs to “sit the f—k down” and “grow some brains,” while calling her a “homophobic, bigoted ignorant woman.”

On Monday (Jan. 20), Minaj followed up with another post on X, again including an image of Chucky giving the middle finger.

“LOL!!! And I purposely wrote it that way b/c I knew that would be the only way to get the c—k suckas to post about it. They would’ve all collectively ignored the despicable behavior displayed by Lemon head,” she wrote. “I’m glad they’re angry. They’re about to get angrier.”

The controversy comes after Minaj faced backlash for appearing on stage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest last December in Phoenix with Erika Kirk, the wife of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. During the interview, the hip-hop star praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as “role models” for young men.

In early January, thousands of people signed an online petition on Change.org calling for Minaj’s deportation to her native Trinidad. Minaj moved to the United States when she was 5 years old and said in a 2024 livestream that she still was not a U.S. citizen.