Have you ever heard of a journalist and a famous rapper fight? Because currently, famous rapper Nicki Minaj and journalist Don Lemon have had some personal issues between one another, and have taken it out to the public.
59-year-old independent Don Lemon, former CNN anchor, recently covered an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota on Thursday, January 18. The protesters interrupted a church service, stating they were there because the pastor was an acting field director of the local ICE office. Trump’s Department of Justice had attempted to charge Don Lemon for broadcasting and reporting on the protest. However, the judge did not sign off on these charges, hating the prosecution.
According to The Guardian, Trump responded on the topic of Lemon with this: “I saw him [Lemon] the way he walked in that church, it was terrible…I have such respect for that pastor. He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible.”
Nicki Minaj, a famous rapper, has publicly announced her political stance in the United States, stating her love for the current president, Donald Trump. She has spoken out about such things, which some celebrities, like Ice Cube, have called her out, claiming that as a musician, she should not mix politics with her career.
Nicki Minaj heard of the Trump and Don Lemon issue and created a post on X, a popular social media platform. She had called Lemon “disgusting” and referred to the LGBTQ+ journalist as an anti-gay slur. She had even stated later, “I’m glad they’re angry,” which led to speculation that she had used the slur on purpose with full intent.
“How dare you? I want that thug in jail!” Minaj wrote in all caps, according to USA Today, “He would never do that to any other religion. Lock him up!”
That day, Lemon responded in an Instagram video, calling Minaj’s post “unhinged” and “homophobic.” He then proceeded to raise questions about Minaj’s citizenship status, because Minaj had reportedly said she is not a U.S. citizen. Following that, Lemon raised questions about Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, as he is registered as a Level 2 sex offender.
“I usually don’t respond to this stuff,” Lemon stated in his Instagram video, “but let me just say this, Nicki Minaj, stop talking about [stuff] which you know nothing about…She doesn’t understand politics. She doesn’t understand journalism.”
“Hearing what she’s doing sounds morally wrong and against her values as a Christian. I don’t believe she should be hating or bashing on people,” said Mia Fusca,a junior in STEM at Roosevelt High School. “She shouldn’t claim to spread love then do the opposite.”
Fusca went on to explain that Minaj is a rapper, and while she has catchy songs, she is very open about her political standpoint. She shouldn’t be rude to other people simply because they don’t believe in the same ideas as her, calling people out.
Personally, as long as the protest was peaceful and had no intention of harm or inconvenience, people should be allowed to protest. And the issue alone was between Don Lemon and Donald Trump, not Nicki Minaj. She’s allowed to have her own personal options and say, but her words will have consequences attached to them, whatever they may be.
