A public feud between rapper Nicki Minaj and former CNN anchor Don Lemon has erupted following his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
The confrontation highlights growing tensions around immigration enforcement and media coverage of religious spaces.
What started as protest coverage quickly escalated into a clash involving accusations of homophobia, questions about citizenship, and deeply personal attacks.
Here’s how the controversy unfolded and what both parties said.
The Church Protest That Sparked Controversy
On January 18, protesters disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. They made unverified claims that one of the church’s pastors works for ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Lemon livestreamed the event for nearly seven hours, interviewing congregation members, protesters, and church leadership. His coverage included multiple perspectives on the disruptive demonstration.
Lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell expressed his disapproval directly to Lemon during the broadcast.
This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.
Protester Nekima Levy Armstrong offered a contrasting viewpoint, defending the group’s actions.
This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is directing ICE agents to wreak havoc upon our community.
The protest occurred less than two weeks after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good on January 7 in Minneapolis, adding context to community tensions around immigration enforcement.
Minaj’s Inflammatory Response
The rapper didn’t hold back in her criticism of Lemon’s coverage. On January 19, Minaj posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling Lemon “disgusting” and using an anti-gay slur.
How dare you? I want that thug in jail! He would never do that to any other religion. Lock him up!
Minaj later doubled down on her language choice, claiming it was intentional. She responded to multiple tweets about Lemon, including one where she admitted to deliberately using offensive language.
They would’ve all collectively ignored the despicable behavior displayed by Lemon head. I’m glad they’re angry. They’re about to get angrier.
Her posts suggested she believed the slur would draw more attention to what she perceived as Lemon’s inappropriate conduct at the church.
Lemon Fires Back With Personal Attacks
The former CNN anchor responded the same day with an Instagram video addressing Minaj’s comments. He didn’t mince words, calling her post “unhinged” and “homophobic.”
You’re out of your depth.
Lemon then pivoted to questioning Minaj’s citizenship status. The rapper, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, has reportedly stated she is not a U.S. citizen, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
He also brought up Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, who is a registered Level 2 sex offender—a detail that seemed designed to deflect criticism back onto the rapper’s personal life.
You have nerve to talk about me and what you think that I do. Nicki Minaj, get a life. Stop being a pick me.
Minaj’s Recent Political Alignment
The rapper’s criticism of Lemon aligns with her recent public support of President Donald Trump’s administration. Throughout 2025, Minaj has increasingly engaged with political issues and conservative figures.
She collaborated with United Nations ambassador Mike Waltz to address alleged anti-Christian violence in Nigeria. However, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied characterizations of the country as “religiously intolerant.”
This political shift marks a notable change for Minaj, who previously maintained a more apolitical public persona focused primarily on music and entertainment.
Who Is Don Lemon?
Lemon, who is openly gay, worked as an anchor on CNN for nearly a decade from 2014 until his firing in April 2023. His departure from the network was controversial and followed several on-air incidents that drew criticism.
After leaving CNN, Lemon launched his own media company and now hosts “The Don Lemon Show,” an eponymous podcast where he covers news and current events.
His presence at the Minnesota church protest was part of his independent journalism efforts. Several other journalists also attended and covered the demonstration.
The Broader Context: ICE Tensions in Minneapolis
Understanding the protest requires acknowledging recent events in the Minneapolis community. The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on January 7 created heightened tensions around immigration enforcement.
Community activists have expressed growing concerns about ICE operations in their neighborhoods. The protest at Cities Church represented these frustrations boiling over into direct action.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on claims that a church pastor works for ICE. Without verification, these allegations remain unconfirmed but continue to fuel community concerns.
What Happens Next
Neither Minaj nor Lemon has shown signs of backing down from their positions. USA TODAY reached out to representatives for both parties but has not received responses.
The controversy raises important questions about journalism, religious freedom, immigration enforcement, and the boundaries of acceptable public discourse.
What began as coverage of a local protest has evolved into a national conversation touching on multiple sensitive topics—from LGBTQ+ rights to religious liberty to immigration policy.
Whether this feud continues or fades will likely depend on how both personalities choose to engage—or disengage—in coming days.