Comedian Mike Epps Apologizes for Crude Joke About Trump and Nicki Minaj

Epps made the offensive comment during a comedy show, prompting a public apology to the rapper.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Comedian Mike Epps publicly apologized to Nicki Minaj for making a crude sexual joke about her and former President Donald Trump during a comedy show in Kentucky. Minaj has been a vocal supporter of Trump, which has sparked backlash from some fans. Epps acknowledged that he sometimes "goes wild" on stage after having a few drinks, but took responsibility for the inappropriate comment.

Why it matters

Epps' joke highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Minaj's support for Trump, which has drawn criticism from those who see it as at odds with her background as an immigrant. The incident also underscores the need for comedians to be mindful of the impact their jokes can have, especially when targeting public figures.

The details

During his set at the We Them Ones Comedy Tour in Louisville, Kentucky, Epps made a crude comment about Minaj, saying she was "having a train ran on her by Donald Trump and them." Epps later took to Instagram to apologize, acknowledging that he sometimes "gets on that stage, and I have a little drink, and I go wild." He said he wanted to apologize to Minaj, her husband, and her children for the inappropriate remark.

  • On February 6, 2026, Epps made the offensive joke about Minaj and Trump during his comedy show in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • On February 10, 2026, Epps posted a video on his Instagram Stories apologizing for the joke.

The players

Mike Epps

A comedian known for his roles in films like The Hangover and the Netflix series The Upshaws.

Nicki Minaj

A popular rapper who has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, which has sparked backlash from some of her fans.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who Minaj has publicly supported, drawing criticism from some of her fans.

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What they’re saying

“Y'all know I'm Mr Accountability. You know, I say stuff and do stuff, and then I go to bed, wake up the next morning, [having] prayed on and thought about it.”

— Mike Epps, Comedian (Entertainment Weekly)

“I just want to apologize to you, Nicki Minaj, for saying the stuff that I said. I want to apologize to your husband, your kids, all that for saying what I said.”

— Mike Epps, Comedian (Entertainment Weekly)

“I'm a comedian. Sometimes I get on that stage, and I have a little drink, and I go wild. I'm non-filtered. Just wanted to apologize to you. Not explaining myself, but I am Mr. Accountability… I love apologizing, which is something a lot of people don't know how to do. [I] apologize to you, Nicki.”

— Mike Epps, Comedian (Entertainment Weekly)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for comedians to be mindful of the impact their jokes can have, especially when targeting public figures. It also underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding Nicki Minaj's support for former President Trump, which has drawn criticism from some of her fans.