Lil Nas X Took Down Homophobic Questions From Men in a Barbershop About Why He Came Out
Lil Nas X continues to be the living legend he is, this time taking down homophobia and explaining why he chose to come out at the time he did.
In a video making the rounds on Twitter, the “Old Town Road” artist stopped by HBO’s The Shop: Uninterrupted and was questioned about the announcement of his sexuality. For a refresher, Lil Nas X publicly came out on social media at the end of June. The act inspired a flurry of thought pieces on the internet, unpacking what it meant to have such a visible queer artist in hip-hop.
Paul Rivera says in the clip, “And with all that early success, you felt the need to make an announcement, recently.” Kevin Hart quickly interjects saying, “He said he was gay, so what?” Rivera was then able to clarify his questions: “Why did he feel it was necessary to come out and say that?”
Lil Nas X responds, “It’s not that like, it’s like being forced, it’s knowing like, growing up to hate this sh*t.” Hart then interrupts again, asking, “Hate what?”
“Homosexuality. Gay people,” Lil Nas X replies. “Come on now, if you’re really from the hood you know it’s not something…for me, the ‘cool dude’ with the song on top of everything to say this any other time it’s like I’m doing this for attention in my eyes. But if you’re doing this while at the top, you know it’s for real and showing that it doesn’t really matter, I guess.”
Many people on Twitter have applauded the rapper for holding his ground in the situation, also citing that it sure looked like he was being gaslighted. It’s one thing for Lil Nas X to be able to speak freely about his sexuality on social media. It’s another for him to sit there being questioned by someone like Hart, who has a documented history of homophobia, including his tweets from 2011 in which he joked that if he caught his son playing with his daughter’s dolls he’d break the dollhouse over his head.
Lil Nas X’s experience on The Shop is one that many LGBTQ people can relate to. Not only do we often have to come out throughout our lives to people, but many people question why we find it necessary. When someone like Hart asks, “Who cares?” it’s a flippant unwillingness to admit the violence that LGBTQ communities face. Queer and trans youth face higher rates of overall violence, whether it’s verbal (such as bullying) or dating and/or sexual violence. Additionally, there continues to be an epidemic of black trans women being killed merely for existing.
The rapper also seems to be aware of the politics of coming out. He cites how often when an artist reveals something about their sexuality, they’re lambasted as simply doing it for attention. Lil Nas X coming out at the height of “Old Town Road” fame meant that he’d be infallible to that criticism — a pretty genius, aware move on his part. In addition, it seems like he’s keeping in mind other young people who might be struggling with their sexuality while growing up in a hostile environment that’s unwelcoming of anything outside heteronormativity.
It’s almost the perfect irony as well that Lil Nas X ends his statement with, “You know it’s for real and showing that it doesn’t really matter, I guess.” Because while it does not matter however you identify, it does matter greatly that someone like him is speaking freely about it — and schooling a room full of men who clearly don’t understand the power of his words.
Related: Lil Nas X Talks Fame, Going Viral, and More in His First Cover Story
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
