The 2026 award season has been full of unpredictability, and host Deon Cole elevated the moment to a spiritual and sharply satirical peak during the 57th NAACP Image Awards. Returning to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to emcee for a second straight year, the 54-year-old comedian kicked off with a mock altar call aimed at a few celebrities, but it was his particular prayer for Nicki Minaj that unleashed a wave of laughter and disbelief from the audience.
The joke lands as Nicki Minaj continues to attract headlines for her staunch MAGA allegiance. Just days earlier, the “Anaconda” rapper was seen alongside President Donald Trump at a marquee cryptocurrency event at Mar-a-Lago, soon after declaring herself his biggest admirer. According to The Mirror U.S., Cole did not hold back, presenting his roast as a plea for divine intervention regarding the rapper’s political shift.
“Lord, we want you to bless our sister Nicki Minaj, Lord, yes. She’s been going through a lot lately,” Cole began, adopting the cadence of a familiar Sunday-morning preacher. A photo of the 43-year-old rapper—who was not in attendance— flashed on the screen.
Cole pushed the humor into riskier territory: “She hasn’t been herself, Lord. I believe whatever is in her a** is affecting her brain, Lord. Take it out her a**, Lord. We bind that spirit in her a**, Lord.”
The camera swept across a star-studded audience that included Michael B. Jordan and Regina Hall, capturing a mix of uproarious laughter and astonished expressions. Cole had prefaced the moment by acknowledging that “people need prayer to get through these times,” then turned his comedic blessings toward other stars such as Teyana Taylor and 50 Cent.
Sure enough, Nicki Minaj’s fans, a.k.a. The Barbz, were not laughing along with Cole’s bit. Known for fiercely defending their idol, the Barbz also sent their share of heat toward the comedian. Cole later took to Threads to reveal some of the notes he received from Barbz followers.
One fan unearthed a photo of Cole with his late mother and wrote, “Go dig ur mama upppp.”
Another user sent a message reading, “that why ur fat a** black m&m built [a**} mom dead b**** god was giving her grace cause she should’ve died when she was giving birth to u out of her stank a** dry a** raccoon p***y b****.”
Deon Cole Set The Stage For This Year’s NAACP Image Awards
While Deon Cole supplied the evening’s viral comedic relief, the ceremony remained a powerful celebration of Black achievement. Beyond the jokes, the NAACP honored several industry titans for their lasting influence on culture. Viola Davis earned the prestigious Chairman’s Award. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Davis urged the community to “move forward together or not at all,” underscoring that healing requires a “radical acceptance of one’s truth.”
Colman Domingo was recognized with the President’s Award. He was celebrated for his “impact, excellence, and commitment” to elevating standards in film and advocacy. Salt-N-Pepa were inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, marking their 40-year legacy of empowering women in hip-hop.
As the night drew to a close, it was evident that while Cole was willing to tease headlines that directly touched his peers, the overarching message of the 2026 NAACP Image Awards was resilience and unabashed celebration.
