Lil Nas X took to Twitter to respond to people claiming that he came out as gay to boost his career.
He started out writing, "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." When a Twitter user claimed that he's "using being Gay you’re entire identity and artistry," Lil Nas X responded, stating, "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."
This comes amid controversy surrounding Lil Nas X's latest music video, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," which shows Lil Nas X riding a stripper pole from heaven to hell and giving Satan a lapdance. He spoke about the concept of the video, telling TIME, "I grew up in a pretty religious kind of home—and for me, it was fear-based very much. Even as a little child, I was really scared of every single mistake I may or may not have made. I want kids growing up feeling these feelings, knowing they’re a part of the LGBTQ community, to feel like they’re O.K. and they don’t have to hate themselves."
