Rapper Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hill, is one of the most prominent gay pop artists on the scene right now. And amid declining acceptance for the LGBT community, he’s just decided that it’s the perfect time to … needlessly antagonize Christians for attention.
Lil Nas X just released a new single titled “J Christ” and an accompanying music video in which he portrays Jesus Christ. In the video, the rapper alternates between profane lyrics, sexually suggestive positions, sacrilegious religious portrayals, and extremely low-quality CGI featuring him (literally) dunking on the devil. The rapper promoted the single with a series of bizarre videos, including one that showed him taking shots of communion wine and eating communion wafers in bulk, seemingly mocking a classic Christian tradition.
It all went over like a fart in church. The video was so poorly received, even among the rapper’s fanbase, that he actually posted a rambling pseudo-apology video on his social media accounts.
“I know I messed up really bad this time. I can act unbothered all I want, but it’s definitely taken a mental toll on me,” Lil Nas X says in the video. “I’m not some evil demon guy trying to destroy everybody’s values and stuff like that. That’s not me.”
“I know this isn’t going to be an immediate, swift, everybody moves forward,” he continued. “But I do want my Christian fans to know that I am not against you. I was put on this Earth to bring people closer together and promote love. That’s who I am.”
This apology/denial strains credulity. Are we really supposed to believe that the same man whose past videos include him having sex with Satan and who wore shoes containing human blood did all this with no intention of antagonizing Christians? Seriously? That’s downright insulting to his supporters’ intelligence.
Moreover, if Lil Nas X really wants to “bring people closer together,” he needs to rethink his approach radically. These tactics might successfully generate headlines, clicks, and attention for him, sure. But, as a musician, wouldn’t he rather get noticed for actually creating music people enjoy and find interesting, rather than primarily for trolling people? And is the attention really worth it if it’s coming at his own community’s expense?
Lil Nas X has said he “100% wants to represent the LGBT community” and wants to “open doors for other queer people to exist.” But his music mocking Christianity and his brand that conflates his gay celebrity with having sex with Satan completely undermines that goal.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
It only reinforces the incorrect perception among some Christians that the LGBT community is inherently perverse and at odds with all of their values. In reality, there are many gay Christians, and many people from within the LGBT community simply want to coexist with Christian Americans, free to live our lives without intruding on their faith.
If Lil Nas X really wants to help the LGBT community — rather than simply enrich himself in an attention economy — he should spend less time needlessly trolling Christians and more time making meaningful music that doesn’t have to rely on controversy for anyone to notice it.
Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is an independent journalist, YouTuber, co-founder of BASEDPolitics, and Washington Examiner contributor.