Following his hosting of the 57th NAACP Image Awards, comedian Deon Cole shared screenshots of hate mail on Instagram from Nicki Minaj fans and Tourette’s advocates upset over his satirical jokes. The backlash included slurs and death threats, but support came from Jamie Foxx and BET.
In the wake of his bold opening monologue at the 57th NAACP Image Awards—where he joked about Nicki Minaj and advised those with Tourette’s to 'read the room' amid recent BAFTA controversy—host Deon Cole faced a torrent of online hate.
Late Sunday, Cole posted Instagram screenshots revealing DMs filled with slurs (including the n-word), personal attacks, and death wishes from Nicki Minaj's Barbz fans and disability advocates. The post drew nearly 8,000 comments, blending criticism with support, such as Jamie Foxx's message: “Bro I love you! You are brilliant.”
BET issued a statement defending Cole: “Comedians are truth tellers... @deoncole, what you did last night was a lesson in showmanship. Thank you for being our #NAACPImageAwards host for the second year in a row.” It garnered over 1,800 comments and 16,000 likes, with Foxx adding, “Incredible job!!!”
This backlash highlights the fine line comedians walk, especially on hot-button topics.