Liberty University says Lil Nas X's admission letter is fake
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Lil Nas X's recent claim that he will be attending Liberty University in the fall isn't true, according to the conservative Christian school.
On Tuesday, in response to backlash the rapper has faced for using religious imagery to promote his upcoming single, "J CHRIST," Lil Nas X posted what he described as an acceptance letter to the university. The letter welcomed him to the fall 2024 semester, with "a Dual Concentration in Christian Leadership and Biblical Studies."
"I know some of yall hate me right now but i want yall to know im literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall," Lil Nas X wrote in the post on Instagram. "Not everything is a troll! Anyways IM A STUDENT AGAIN! LETS GOOO."
But Liberty University said the singer, whose real name is Montero Hill, had never even applied for enrollment.
"Liberty University did not issue the Montero Hill 'acceptance letter' posted yesterday to social media, and we have no record of Montero Hill applying to the University," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Liberty University exists to glorify God by equipping men and women in higher education in fidelity to the Christian faith expressed through the Holy Scriptures. We continue to pray for America and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed across this land. We welcome all to apply and join us at Liberty University."
There were other clues the letter was fake, not least that it was signed by Jerry Falwell, former president of Liberty University, who died in 2007. Dondi E. Costin is the current president.
Even before the fake admission letter, Lil Nas X had been promoting his new single with Christian imagery and comparisons between himself and Jesus Christ. It hasn't sat well with everyone.
"My new single is dedicated to the man who had the greatest comeback of all time," he wrote Monday in an announcement post on X, formerly Twitter, which featured a photo of Lil Nas X on a cross.
"Disapointed, disgusted & feeling uncomfortable," reads one of the most-shared comments underneath.
Lil Nas X has also dressed as an angel while double-fisting guns to promote the song and teased that it "features a very beloved popstar who ive been a fan of for a long time."
He revealed in a subsequent post that the popstar is God.
Lil Nas X was quick to defend himself amid the backlash. "The crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus. Jesus's image is used throughout history in people's art all over the world," he wrote on X, adding, "Yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born."
This isn't Lil Nas X's first religious controversy. In 2021, he faced social media backlash for appearing as the Devil in the music video of "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)." (He also gave the Devil a lap dance in that video.)
Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va., has long desired to be a beacon of conservative values for Evangelical Christians and the United States in general. It's a frequent Republican campaign stop, hosting conservative luminaries such as John McCain and George W. Bush. The school grew in prominence during Donald Trump's 2016 presidential run, despite protests from some students over Liberty's affiliation with the future 45th president.
Jerry Falwell Jr., who took over leadership of the institution after his father died, endorsed Trump for president in 2016. He resigned from Liberty in 2020 after news reports alleged extramarital conduct involving him and his wife, Becki Falwell. Many accused Falwell Jr. of losing sight of the school's mission to "train champions for Christ."
Ryan Helfenbein, a Liberty University spokesperson, declined to answer questions about whether the school knew Lil Nas X's letter and posts were made in jest or whether the school had any concerns about the rapper's upcoming single.
Representatives for Lil Nas X did not respond to a request for comment.
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