Lil Nas XSource: ANGELA WEISS / Getty
Lil Nas X addresses backlash from the Christian community over his “J Christ” video and apologies for the ‘communion’ bit.
If being controversial is part of your brand there will always come a time you fly too close to the sun and get burned. For openly gay rapper Lil Nas X, it came while promoting his recent single “J Christ”. While he was trying to be funny and troll he posted a ‘communion’ skit that added fuel to the fire involving his use of the lord’s name.
According to Complex, Lil Nas X understands he crossed the line with the ‘communion’ scene but doesn’t regret anything else. He opened up about the entire ordeal while on Jay Shetty’s podcast On Purpose.
“I already kind of explained the situation in that video, but it was thing that that artistically was just supposed to be like, ‘I’m returning. I’m back, I’m back like Him,’” said Nas X to the British author and podcaster. “It turned into this whole thing where it was me trying to dunk on Christians or something, and that was never what it was. I looked at the video with me eating like the communion or whatnot, and I was like ‘Okay, this looks really bad on paper. This thing that I thought was a little jokey fun video.”
If you thought his apology meant he was done trolling or being his authentic self, think again. Lil Nas X made it very clear yes he crossed the line but that’s all he is sorry for.
“I feel like I’ve apologized to the communion thing on that note. Everything else? I’m not sorry about. I don’t think I did anything wrong. I’ve also been making a lot of gospel music to God and, like, my spiritual side, and I hate that this whole thing gets turned into a ‘mockery,’ which it isn’t.”
In every artist’s career, there comes a time when they upset a large group of people, it always happens. However, Lil Nas X should have known the Christians who were already against him wouldn’t let him play about Jesus. You live and you learn but let’s be honest this could have been avoided. After this recent backlash, he will have to come up with some great music in the future because any gimmicks will quickly be written off.
“J Christ” debuted at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and the rapper lost almost 150k followers because of the backlash.
If you haven’t seen the video in question you can watch it below.