Nicki Minaj and Don Lemon have been at each other’s necks this week after Minaj called the former CNN reporter a homophobic slur.
Now, Minaj has defended her use of the derogatory remark. On Monday afternoon (Jan. 19), the Pink Friday 2 rapper took to X, where she claims she intentionally used the slur to force media outlets to cover her criticism of Lemon.
“LOL!!! And I purposely wrote it that way b/c I knew that would be the only way to get the cock suckas to post about it,” Minaj wrote in response to a fan who said the media was lying about Minaj calling Lemon a slur.
“They would’ve all collectively ignored the despicable behavior displayed by Lemon head,” Minaj added. “I’m glad they’re angry. They’re about to get angrier.”
Earlier on Monday, Minaj referred to the journalist as “Don ‘Cock Suckin’ Lemon” after Lemon shared footage on Sunday of protesters interrupting a church service in Minneapolis, which allegedly has ties to ICE.
According to Lemon's reporting, the demonstration targeted David Easterwood, whom Lemon reported is the acting field office director for ICE in St. Paul, and was present at the church service.
“DON ‘COCK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING,” Nicki tweeted early Monday morning after seeing Lemon's footage of the protest. “HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!”
Lemon, who is openly gay, fired back at Minaj via TMZ, saying the artist should be "deported".
“She called me: Don, C-sucker Lemon. It’s disgusting,” he said. “I think Nicki Minaj has made it very clear how she feels about African-Americans in this country—I don't think she's one of them, obviously—and she should, under Trump's rule, she should be deported because I don't think, reportedly, that she is a legal citizen here. She is undocumented.”
He also referenced her husband, Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender, and suggested Minaj is “cozying up to the Trump administration for some sort of leniency for her family members.”
Minneapolis has become a hub for ICE activity. Earlier this month, the city found itself in headlines after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good in the head while she was driving.
Additional ICE-related incidents have occurred in Minneapolis, including 23-year-old Nisra Ahmed being detained and injured by agents despite being a US citizen, and agents reportedly returning to a family-run Mexican restaurant after eating there and detaining multiple employees who served them.