Lil Nas X Explains Why He Came Out While He Was 'At The Top'
Lil Nas X opened up about why he came out when he did on WorldPride day earlier this year, explaining on a recent episode of an HBO talk show that he grew up hating homosexuality and wanted to change that for others.
On Tuesday, HBO aired an episode of “The Shop: Uninterrupted” featuring the artist alongside Maverick Carter, Kevin Hart, Rob Gronkowski, Kevin Love, CJ McCollum, Charlamagne tha God and Paul Rivera. In a clip that has since gone viral on Twitter, McCollum asked the “Old Town Road” singer why he came out when he did.
Hart then interjected mid-question to say, “He said he was gay! So what!”
The 20-year-old said, “It’s not like I was being forced. It’s just like knowing growing up, I’m growing up to hate this shit. I’m not supposed ―” Hart interrupted again to ask, “Hate what? Why? Why are you growing up to hate?”
“Homosexuality, gay people,” said Lil Nas X, before pointedly saying to Hart, “Come on now, if you’re really from the hood you know.”
The Georgia native went on to say that he saw it like this: “If for me, the ‘cool dude with the song on top of everything,’ to say this at any other time, I’m doing this for attention ... But if you’re doing this while you’re at the top, you know it’s for real. It’s showing it doesn’t really matter, I guess.”
.@lilnasx speaks the truth about his choice to come out while at the top. More of The Shop on @HBO now! pic.twitter.com/wETNaPUU5t
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) September 4, 2019
Many on Twitter lambasted Hart for his outburst during the exchange, because of his own history of anti-gay jokes and tweets. Many specifically accused the comedian of gaslighting Lil Nas X:
Lil Nas X is a gift. He continues to be courageous and wise. But putting him in a situation to be gaslit by known homophobes about his choice to come out is terrible. pic.twitter.com/AAsGSlzmb0
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) September 4, 2019
"He said he was gay. So what!" Kevin Hart knows exactly what the "so what" is here and why a young black boy would closet his sexuality until he believed it was safe. Why not simply listen, give @LilNasX the space and deference to tell his own story... https://t.co/8nY9cHPftP
— G O L D I E. (@goldietaylor) September 4, 2019
YAH THAT’S RIGHT LIL NAS X TELL KEVIN HART TELL HIM HOW IT IS https://t.co/ICpMHf76LD
— Justin Hiltner (@hiltnerj) September 4, 2019
Kevin attempting to come off as the “enlightened” one here when he literally lost the biggest job of his life due to homophobia is big jokes. https://t.co/pukH60SrHr
— April (@ReignOfApril) September 4, 2019
Lil Nas X is brilliant and whoever took lead on producing his segment on The Shop needs to do some introspection. That shit truly hurt me to see him subjected to, especially from Black men that’s supposed to be in his corner
— muna mire (@Muna_Mire) September 4, 2019
Whew, the gaslighting from Kevin Hart. I keep telling y’all; trash in, trash out. Anyway, I’m so proud of @LilNasX. His calm confidence is impressive. https://t.co/eO1MpEs3B1
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) September 4, 2019
The gaslighting and lack of care in that Lil Nas x clip is maddening. I have low hopes for the rest of it.
Watching folks who joke and bash queer people finally come face to face with one and “what do you mean” him about his fears of coming out is trash.
.— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) September 4, 2019
LMAOOOOOOOO at Kevin Hart acting confused and fixing his dumb ass mouth to ask Lil Nas X why he would have homophobic thoughts as a kid.
Uhhhhh, I dont know, maybe cuz SOME people make jokes about beating up their gay children?? FOH#TheShopHBO— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) September 4, 2019
I’m very disappointed that lil nas x was subjected to gaslighting about homophobia in this “conversation.” He shouldn’t have had to defend himself against the obvious like this 💔 https://t.co/LhXZVzkfcs
— HOT BROOKE SUMMER (@BrookeObie) September 4, 2019
Kevin Hart acting like he doesn’t know why Lil Nas X would be scared to come out is like someone who stole the thing you lost helping you look for it. https://t.co/ZmfRNMktel
— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) September 4, 2019
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.