LIL NAS X FACES BACKLASH AFTER COMING OUT AS GAY
Lil Nas X isn’t fazed by the backlash he’s received after coming out as gay earlier this week.
The “Old Town Road” rapper discussed the negative reactions to his reveal in an interview with the BBC published Friday.
“Oh, I’m already getting it,” the musician said of backlash. However, Lil Nas X — whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill — said he’s not taking the hate to heart.
On an Instagram post meant to celebrate his song’s historic run on the Billboard charts, Lil Nas X received comments bashing his identity, ranging from “Can you not be gay” to “He’s gay I’m no longer listening to this (expletive)” to “U still gay tho.”
The rapper made light of the remarks. “Just got news that i’m gay and i will no longer be streaming my music. i’m sorry that (expletive) is just not ok,” he sarcastically tweeted Tuesday.
“I used to be that person being negative,” he told the BBC. “I’m not angry or anything (about it), because I understand how they just want that reaction.”
Though he admitted he was hesitant before coming out, he said he felt like he was “opening doors for more people” with his decision.
“I don’t want to just live my entire life, especially how I got to where I’m at, just not doing what I want to do,” the rapper added.
Though he hoped his fans would be accepting, Lil Nas X admitted homosexuality was “not really accepted in either the country (or) hip-hop communities.”
Hints that the star was coming out began when he asked his followers take a close look at the lyrics to his latest song, “c7osure” on Sunday, adding a rainbow emoji to the post.
He then confirmed the speculation Monday, tweeting, “just cuz i’m gay don’t mean i’m not straight.”