Nicki Minaj Confesses: Used Homophobic Slur Against Don Lemon Just to Make Headlines

Nicki Minaj doubled down on her feud with Don Lemon this week, admitting that she deliberately used a homophobic slur to make headlines.

The rapper and the journalist have been clashing since Lemon covered a protest in Minneapolis, and the disagreement quickly turned personal. According to Minaj’s posts on X, she intentionally crafted her offensive language to force media attention.

In one post, Minaj defended calling Lemon “Don ‘C*** Suckin’ Lemon” and explained why she wrote it that way. “LOL!!! And I purposely wrote it that way b/c I knew that would be the only way to get the c*** suckas to post about it,” she wrote in response to a fan, as reported by X. She added that the outrage was part of her plan. “They would’ve all collectively ignored the despicable behavior displayed by Lemon head,” Minaj said, finishing with a warning: “I’m glad they’re angry. They’re about to get angrier.”

The feud began earlier Monday after Lemon shared footage of protesters interrupting a church service in Minneapolis. Minaj reacted strongly, tweeting, “DON ‘COCK 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!!!!!”

Lemon, who is openly gay, fired back in a statement to TMZ. He called Minaj’s words “disgusting” and questioned her allegiance to the African-American community. He also suggested that, under former President Trump, Minaj could face deportation. “She is undocumented,” he said, adding that her recent political alignments might benefit her husband, Kenneth Petty, who is a registered s** offender.

The clash between the rapper and the journalist comes against the backdrop of growing tension in Minneapolis over ICE enforcement. Recent incidents, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agents and the detention of other community members, have sparked protests that Lemon covered.

Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, has been dominating the music industry for over a decade. Her latest album, Pink Friday 2, debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and features collaborations with Drake, Lil Wayne, and J. Cole. She is also on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, currently the highest-grossing tour ever by a female rapper.

Don Lemon, meanwhile, is building his new career after leaving CNN in April 2023. He now hosts The Don Lemon Show on social media platforms, giving him freedom to cover stories without traditional broadcast constraints. He has been reporting from hotspots like the Minneapolis protests while promoting his memoir and speaking out on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and racial justice.

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