Lil Nas X's on-stage smooch at the BET awards with a backup dancer has drawn the ire of several social media critics. The rapper, though, is brushing off the haters.
On June 27, the "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" singer performed not only his song, but he also paid tribute to Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time." Toward the end of the performance, he kissed one of his male backup dancers.
One Twitter user was upset, tweeting, "DONT USE AFRICAN CULTURE FOR S**TS LIKE THIS!!!!!!! RESPECT OUR ANCESTORS."
Lil Nas X, who came out in 2019 as a member of the LGBTQ community, clapped back, "y'all really like to pretend homosexuality didn't exist in african culture."
Another viewer ripped Lil Nas X's red carpet wardrobe, an ensemble that consisted of an elaborate gown.
"I'm sure he was paid a million dollars to wear this nonsense. This will cause other little boys that admire him to dress this way for free and I hate seeing men emasculated…," the person tweeted. "LMAOOOOOOOO y'all sick, this performance last night proved my point. He's pushing an agenda."
Lil Nas sarcastically responded, "we causing the emasculation of men all 2021." He also humorously implored the person to post better pictures of him from the BET red carpet. Another person posted a LeBron James meme and said, "Being gay doesn't mean you have to look or act the part of a fem. You can just be a gay male and show up to the BET awards with a suit and tie."
Nas clapped back, "wearing traditional male clothing and using lebron memes will not help you make straight friends bro give it up."
Of course, many of the rapper's fans backed up the "Old Town Road" performer and came down hard on the critics. Nas even got a big endorsement from Diddy.
"Lil Nas X did that!!," Diddy tweeted. "Be fearless!!!"
Nas seemed to have no issue highlighting his haters, as he responded to many of them on Monday on Twitter.
"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. "Work on yourselves, i love who i am and whatever i decide to do. Get there."