Lil Nas X is tired of people saying he’s “gay for success.”
Ever since his single and music video “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” dropped last month, musician Lil Nas X has received both praise and ridicule. But even though the artist has received more than his fair share of hate from conservative people online (including priests and U.S. congress members), he’s not afraid to push back.
Yesterday, Lil Nas X took to Twitter to share some heated words with his haters. It seems, the musician’s been getting responses saying he’s playing up his sexuality for success.
“Y’all love saying I’m being gay for success but can’t name five successful gay male artists in the last 10 years to save your life,” Nas tweeted.
y’all love saying i’m being gay for success but can’t name 5 successful gay male artists in the last 10 years to save your life
— ✟ (@LilNasX) April 20, 2021
While many people celebrated Lil Nas X’s clap back at the hate, not everyone was happy. Some called the rapper and singer out for erasing the success and work of LGBTQ singers that came before him.
Names such as Harry Styles, Freddie Mercury, Adam Lambert, Elton John, Sam Smith, Hozier, and more were mentioned in responding tweets. Many of those names, however, were later marked off, as Harry Styles chooses not to label himself, Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago and was bi, Sam Smith is nonbinary, and so on.
freddie mercury died 20 years ago and was BI
elton john isn't in activity nowadays
adam lambert isn't really sucessful
sam smith is nonbinary
hozier is a straight one hit wonderalso you only listed five names? u think thats enough?
— nano (@nanoshaolin) April 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/lolatheluvhippo/status/1384517010030166021?s=20
Honestly, if I would have had a artist to look up to in the past, realizing i was bi probably would have been easier. There probably were bi artists out there that I could've looked up to, I just didn't know of them, this is why I really like you being so open
— 💜Lia Julee💜 (@lia_julee) April 20, 2021
Of course, many came to Lil Nas X’s defense as well. For instance, the musician liked a tweet that confronted gay men who didn’t like the music video. The Twitter user and fan noted that the artist has only “made ONE gay song/video.”
He then added, “I notice a lot of gays keep pushing this ‘Lil Nas makes his whole artistry about being gay’ narrative and it’s like. y’all stan cishet men and women who rap about their sexuality 24/7 yet when a fellow gay does it there’s a problem? If you hate yourself just say that!”
I notice a lot of gays keep pushing this “Lil Nas makes his whole artistry about being gay” narrative and it’s like. y’all stan cishet men and women who rap about their sexuality 24/7 yet when a fellow gay does it there’s a problem? If you hate yourself just say that!
— Lethal Homo (@LordeCali) April 20, 2021
After seeing the conflict over his initial tweet, Lil Nas X wrote a follow-up tweet.
“I’m not dissing anyone. I’m acknowledging the fact that we aren’t usually as successful as our peers. What’s not clicking starbucks spellman,” Lil Nas X clarified in response to a now-deleted tweet by user @saysospellman.
“It’s a million n***as in the industry that make nothing but songs about women and y’all don’t complain. But I make my first song about a n***a and now it’s my entire artistry. Y’all crack me up man,” Nas wrote before putting the moment to rest.
i’m not dissing anyone. i’m acknowledging the fact that we aren’t usually as successful as our peers. what’s not clicking starbucks spellman. https://t.co/iyQfQzCRLG
— ✟ (@LilNasX) April 20, 2021
it’s a million niggas in the industry that make nothing but songs about women and y’all don’t complain. but i make my first song about a nigga and now it’s my entire artistry. y’all crack me up man. https://t.co/l9J69jVnE5
— ✟ (@LilNasX) April 20, 2021
But knowing the internet, there will be more hate spewed at Lil Nas X. And, he’ll be brave enough to take it on.
