Deon Cole didn’t hold back during his opening monologue at the 57th NAACP Image Awards as he took a ruthless swipe at Nicki Minaj.

The comedian, who hosted Saturday’s ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, had the audience in stitches as he launched into a mock prayer that quickly veered into controversial territory.

‘Lord, we want you to bless our sister Nicki Minaj, Lord,’ Cole began. ‘She’s been going through a lot lately. Hasn’t been herself, Lord.’

He then added, ‘I believe whatever’s in her a** is affecting her brain, Lord,’ drawing laughter from the crowd.

Cole continued the bit by addressing the audience directly. 

‘Before we go, Lord, if there are any white men out here in the audience with Tourette’s, I advise you to tell them they better read the room tonight, Lord,’ he said to applause. ‘It might not go the way they think. But whatever medicine they on, they better double up on it, Lord.’

Deon Cole didn’t hold back during his opening monologue at the 57th NAACP Image Awards as he took a swipe at Nicki Minaj

Cameras panned to audience members laughing and smiling as Cole fully committed to the preacher-style routine.

His remark about Minaj ‘not being herself’ appeared to reference the recent backlash the rapper has faced over her vocal support of President Donald Trump.

Last month, Minaj revealed she had received a signed Bible from Trump, calling it ‘one of the most meaningful gifts’ she has ever gotten. 

The 43-year-old shared an image of the Holy Bible, emblazoned with ‘God Bless The USA’ and Trump’s signature to X, writing in the caption: ‘One of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received in my entire life.’

The signed edition is currently listed for $1,000 on the official God Bless The USA website.

It was not the only Trump-themed gift Minaj has showcased.

In January, she posted a photo of a Trump ‘Gold Card’ bearing his image and signature. Around the same time, she told fans she was finalizing her U.S. citizenship paperwork.

‘Residency? Residency? The cope is coping,’ she wrote in one post. ‘Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President. Thanks to the petition.’

The comedian had the audience in stitches as he launched into a mock prayer that quickly veered into controversial territory; seen in January 2026

She added in another message, ‘I wouldn’t have done it without you. Oh CitizenNIKA you are thee moment Gold Trump card free of charge.’

Earlier this week, the rapper marked Presidents’ Day with a post that sparked further debate. 

She shared digitally altered images appearing to show Trump alongside her in matching pink outfits while cruising in a car. 

Some users pointed out that a reflection of her husband, Kenneth Petty, seemed visible in the window behind Trump’s head.

‘Happy #PresidentsDay,’ Minaj captioned the post.

Reactions were swift, with one commenter writing, ‘Cringe,’ and another asking why she didn’t use a real photo if she had met the president. 

Others joked about spotting Petty in the reflection.

Minaj, who married Petty in 2019 and shares a five-year-old son with him, has become increasingly vocal in her support of Trump and Vice President JD Vance over the past several months. 

She has appeared at political events and even referred to herself as the president’s ‘number one fan.’

His remark about Minaj ‘not being herself’ appeared to reference the recent backlash the rapper has faced over her vocal support of President Donald Trump (pictured in December)

Her political shift has caused friction among some members of her fanbase, with a number of longtime supporters publicly distancing themselves.

Cole’s monologue wasn’t limited to Minaj. 

He also took aim at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a segment that was largely censored during the CBS and BET broadcast. 

He later alluded to the recent BAFTA Awards controversy involving activist John Davidson, who has Tourette’s syndrome and involuntarily shouted the N-word during the ceremony.

Despite the buzzy opening, the evening ultimately celebrated major achievements in film and television.

Last month, Minaj revealed she had received a signed Bible from Trump, calling it ‘one of the most meaningful gifts’ she has ever gotten; seen last year 

Sinners and its star Michael B. Jordan emerged as big winners of the night.

Jordan, 39, took home Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role as twins in the acclaimed horror film before returning to the stage to accept Entertainer of the Year.

‘Y’all really don’t understand how much this means to me,’ Jordan said, visibly emotional. He reflected on attending the Image Awards as a child and described the event as a ‘reunion.’

‘This is the place I always felt encouraged, felt like I was being celebrated and nourished, you guys poured into me,’ he said. ‘I felt seen here. I felt comfortable. I felt the love.’

He concluded by dedicating his award to his late Black Panther costar Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 at the age of 43.