Lil Nas X has slammed the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards for snubbing him in this year’s nominations.
In a series of since-deleted tweets, the Grammy-award winning rapper called out the American award show for continuously making artists within the LGBTQI+ community feel ‘invisible’.
He wrote: “Thank you BET Awards. An outstanding zero nominations again. Black excellence!”
The rapper continued: “Not even that, it doesn’t have to be me nominated. I just feel like black ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we’re invisible.”
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The ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ singer also fired back at those on Twitter, claiming he wasn’t worthy of a nomination.
While clapping back at one user, the 23-year-old wrote: “No offence but you are literally of caucasian persuasion and trying to school me on an award show I’ve watched my entire childhood and it’s not the hip hop awards and they have a pop/radio category.”
While another person questioned why the rapper felt he should be nominated, saying he shouldn’t use his sexuality as a crutch.
To which the singer-songwriter pointed out that he’s topped the charts for the past year, and his debut album MONTERO was met with commercial and critical success.
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However, this isn’t the only time the rapper has faced backlash.
In 2021, during his sexually charged Egyptian-themed performance of ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ at the BET awards, Lil Nas X locked lips with a male background dancer.
Many took to Twitter, labelling the performance as ‘inappropriate’.
One person wrote: “This is what too much fame and money does...forget your home training!”
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Another commented: “You’re so insecure about your sexuality you’re overcompensating for it every chance you get. Gay people who know themselves don’t constantly have to remind everyone that they are gay.”
While another said: “That is just nasty. No other heterosexual performer does that.”
However, the rapper defended his performance, saying that he wasn’t trying to appeal to heteronormativity as he took the stage.
“Y’all hate yourselves so much. Y’all live your lives trying your best to appease straight ppl. Y’all are uncomfortable with what I do because y’all are afraid they will be uncomfortable with you," he wrote.
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"Work on yourselves, I love who I am and whatever I decide to do. Get there”
Charisa Bossinakis