Don Lemon applauds this “homophobic bigot” rapper

Don Lemon fight back Nicki Minaj after the rapper threw homophobic insults at him on social media.

Lemon, a former CNN anchor, was covering an ICE protest in Minneapolis on January 18, 2026, coverage that Minaj made clear she disapproved of.

In a new interview, Don Lemon responded to Nicki Minaj after learning of her comments, suggesting that she harbors disdain for “African Americans” in the United States and lacks the sense to talk about politics.

Talk with TMZLemon wasted no time in addressing Minaj’s vitriol, telling the “Super Bass” rapper to “sit down” before attacking her intellect by advising her to “grow your brain.”

Lemon also addressed Minaj’s “homophobic” rhetoric, calling her a “bigot” who has “shown her contempt for African Americans.”

The 59-year-old didn’t stop there, further scrutinizing the interpreter’s intelligence by saying that politics is “outstripped by her.”

“She doesn’t understand politics, she doesn’t understand journalism, and I’m not surprised that she’s speaking out on something that’s beyond her ability.”

Lemon, who hosts “The Don Lemon Show,” also criticized Minaj for being a so-called “pick me,” a term often applied to those seeking male validation.

“Nicki Minaj will do anything that’s politically helpful to her. And once again, she’s ignorant; she doesn’t know what she’s talking about and she’s always speaking out about things she doesn’t know. Nicki Minaj should just sit down.”

And there’s more. Before Lemon finished his response, he lashed out at Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, calling him an “alleged pedophile.”

Lemon expressed confusion regarding Minaj’s “homophobic” statements, citing her husband’s criminal history as a point of hypocrisy.

Lemon’s response follows pushback he faced from some social media users and Minaj over his coverage of an ICE protest taking place in Minnesota.

According to PEOPLEthe protest disrupted a church service “where David Easterwood – a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent – ​​is pastor.”

Lemon posted footage of the protest on her BlueSky social media account, which angered Minaj.

“DON’C— SUCKING LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THIS Psychic IN JAIL!!!!! HE NEVER DOES THIS TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!” Minaj wrote, by The explosion.

Minaj’s statements come just weeks after the ‘No Frauds’ rapper made a surprise appearance at a Turning Points USA convention.

During her appearance, the artist spoke about her faith and explained that she felt encouraged to speak openly about her Christian religion.

She also addressed a remark to the men present in the audience, triggering backlash online. “Boys, be boys… It’s okay, be boys… It’s okay to be a boy.”

“Dear young men, you have incredible role models like our handsome and dashing president, and you have incredible role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president,” she added.