Lil Nas X, 20, removed a celebratory Grammy tweet after some social media users felt it was insensitive amid the tragic news of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna dying in a helicopter crash.
The Georgia native had a massive night at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 26, winning two honors for his monster hit song “Old Town Road” (Best Music Video, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Billy Ray Cyrus, 58). Lil Nas and Billy were joined by BTS, Diplo and Mason Ramsey on stage for a show-stopping performance of his chart-topping smash during the live ceremony.
The rapper at one point tweeted that he had become “Grammy Award winning artist Lil Nas X,” but deleted that as emotions were high that day surrounding Kobe and Gianna’s passing.
“No one cares bro Kobe just passed away wtf is wrong with u,” wrote one follower. “I’m sorry but f*** your Grammy this is Kobe Bryant’s day,” added another. “Didn’t mean any disrespect to Kobe with that announcement,” Nas then said in a replacement tweet while adding, “The news made me sad too! Sending love to those grieving.”
https://twitter.com/ThomasKenny98/status/1221560576758947841
Fans of Lil Nas vigorously defended him after he quickly removed the tweet. “Lil Nas X winning a GRAMMY is exciting and separate from Kobe’s death. He is allowed to be happy,” one tweeted. Another dove a little deeper in their feelings about the situation. “Y’all made Lil Nas X delete his tweets about him winning his first Grammy because of Kobe’s unfortunate death (rest in peace) despite Lil Nas X not knowing or ever meeting Kobe? So a young black gay man won a major award and y’all bullied him over it. Wow.”
As many know by now Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed after the helicopter they were on crashed in Calabasas, California in the morning hours of January 26. Most people who attended the Grammy Awards on Sunday paid tribute to the late & great NBA star and the others involved either during their interviews on the red carpet or on stage that evening.