Rapper Nicki Minaj has criticised former CNN anchor-turned-independent journalist Don Lemon following his livestream coverage of a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota.
Posting on X, Minaj condemned Lemon in strongly worded messages written in capital letters. “DON ‘COCK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING,” she wrote, adding, “HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!”
The controversy arose from a protest on Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul, where demonstrators interrupted a worship service to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to draw attention to the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was killed earlier this month by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement operation. The shooting and increased immigration enforcement activity in the Minneapolis area have triggered widespread protests and heightened tensions.
Lemon was at the scene livestreaming and reporting on the disruption. His presence drew criticism from conservative figures, including officials within the Department of Justice, who accused him of enabling or amplifying the disruption and called for legal consequences. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has since said it is investigating whether federal laws prohibiting interference with religious worship were violated.
Responding to the backlash, Lemon defended his actions, stating that he was reporting in a journalistic capacity and emphasizing that covering protests is protected under the First Amendment.
The White House also weighed in, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the Trump administration “will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship,” adding that the Department of Justice had launched a full investigation into the incident.
Minaj’s remarks come amid broader national debates over media coverage of protests, federal immigration enforcement, and the role of journalists and public figures in responding to contentious public events.