Former CNN presenter Don Lemon has launched a scathing counter-attack against rapper Nicki Minaj, labelling her a "homophobic bigot" after she demanded his arrest for his reporting on a political demonstration.
A Church Service Interrupted and a Firestorm Ignited
The controversy erupted on Sunday, 19 January 2026, when independent journalist Don Lemon published video footage from an anti-ICE protest. The demonstration disrupted a service at the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, a location chosen because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, is the acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office. The protest followed the killing of Renee Nicole Good.
Lemon's coverage, which included an interview with Pastor Easterwood inside the church, was swiftly condemned by MAGA-aligned activists. They accused Lemon of actively participating in the protest by entering the building with the demonstrators.
Minaj's Call for Arrest and Lemon's Blistering Response
Nicki Minaj, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, joined the online fray on Monday. In a now-deleted post on X, the 'Super Bass' rapper wrote: "DON 'C**K SUCKIN' LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!" Her post was accompanied by an image of a Chucky doll.
Lemon, who is gay and married his partner Tim Malone in 2024, responded forcefully. In a statement to TMZ, he said, "I'm not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity." He suggested a more fitting image for her post would be a "'Pick Me' Doll," referencing slang for someone who seeks approval by contrasting themselves with others.
He escalated his criticism in an Instagram video, calling Minaj's rant "unhinged and homophobic." "Nicki Minaj, stop talking about s*** you know nothing about," Lemon stated. "This is out of your depth, by the way, and you are a homophobic bigot... get a life. Stop being a pick me."
Justice Department Investigation and First Amendment Defence
The fallout has extended beyond the war of words. The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed it is investigating the church protest, and Lemon is included in that probe. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon singled Lemon out on social media, warning him: "You are on notice!"
Lemon has vehemently defended his actions as protected journalistic work. In a separate Instagram video, he framed the criticism as a political attack, saying, "The MAGA administration and the fake news MAGAs are losing their mind over something that’s not even true."
"We were there chronicling protests," he explained. "Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people who were involved... That’s it. It’s called journalism, the First Amendment."
Neither Lemon's nor Minaj's representatives provided additional comment to The Independent when contacted. The incident highlights the intense friction between independent media, political activism, and celebrity influence in a highly polarised climate.
