After the conversations nearly three years ago when he rode a stripper pole into the pits of hell and onto the Devil’s lap, Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Nas X is again the talk of the town in the release of his newest single.
The singer-rapper and songwriter posted on his social media account on Tuesday, January 9, his awaited return with his upcoming song “J Christ” to be released on January 12. Accompanying the announcement was the unveiling of a cover art that depicted another religious imagery with the artist being raised from the ground on a cross, similar to Jesus Christ who is a primary representation of Christianity.
MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME!
J CHRIST
JANUARY 12, 2024
00:00 EST
BE THERE! pic.twitter.com/JEX6sSTft5— ☆ (@LilNasX) January 8, 2024
PRESAVE:https://t.co/LrFAtEUdzB pic.twitter.com/UGyNWbfUdG
— ☆ (@LilNasX) January 8, 2024
“My new single is dedicated to the man who had the greatest comeback of all time,” he said in the caption his first lead single and music video for a few years.
It is known in the rollout of his acclaimed debut album Montero in 2021, his use of religion has already been subject to controversy as its satirical and homoerotic portrayal of hell has earned severe backlash from several people, especially conservatives and devout Christians. Lil Nas defended and explained this creative decision as he highlighted how it is partially inspired by the homophobic reactions when he came out as gay in 2019.
According to reports, one instance was during that year’s BET Awards where he was set to perform, some individuals part of his team were asked to confirm that he was not a “satanist or devil worshiper”. For the reason that he was selling “Satan Shoes” sneakers containing a drop of his blood in its sole from a popular brand as well as riding a stripper pole to hell in the “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video.
With this release, it is evident that he is continuing to create visuals coming from Christian iconography which earned different reactions and opinions from social media users. Numerous individuals have criticized the rapper for using the mentioned religion as a “profiting gains or promotional tool” and they pointed out that the artwork is already a form of “blasphemy”. Although many other famous stars have already utilized the same concept of depicting Christianity by providing commentary through their art, users pointed out that Lil Nas’ recent work is on the contrary, “disrespectful” as it has “no impact” and only an “aesthetic” leaning toward “rage-baiting” and “shock factor”.
“i’m not the most religious person by any means but i always wonder why out of all religions, Christianity gets played with/ disrespected the most,” a user said.
“he’s literally so corny….. no commentary, no meaning behind it… just doing it for the sake of publicity and press and people being mad so he can act unbothered…. hate people with artistry as shallow and nonexistent as this…. you’re a corny untalented SHAM,” wrote by a user expressing their sentiments with Lil Nas’s concept.
i’m not the most religious person by any means but i always wonder why out of all religions, christianity gets played with/ disrespected the most.. https://t.co/N6vVkAwCbp
— Shann✨ (@LoveeSBG) January 8, 2024
idgaf about christianity but how many more times is he gonna do this https://t.co/s8cOD78B7U
— janito (@yassnito) January 8, 2024
again, no one would mock Islam or Judaism religions but Christianity is always the butt of all jokes or is always an aesthetic when it comes to profiting gains or promotions 🙄 https://t.co/U7u3Lx0R5a pic.twitter.com/OoBVKV0gY1
— c i n d y 🍉 (@lilicablossomxo) January 8, 2024
he saw this and went for it https://t.co/HdrJ7eVOpU pic.twitter.com/YJV5pSTyr7
— pascal𖤐⍨ (@higorgies) January 8, 2024
when you're up against pop stars in a "try to think of ways to be controversial without the most surface-level regurgitation of blasphemy" competition https://t.co/AabtioD827 pic.twitter.com/HWbjwaPP11
— giselle (@valentinefaerie) January 8, 2024
Good morning IDC about you. disrespecting religion but I feel like you’re just extra to be extra and yes, trolling. What Gaga did with Judas, Madonna with Like A Prayer, Nicki with Roman Holiday – There’s a sense of CLASS to it. https://t.co/QXpd7B4ImP
— pink plastic bag 🌈 (@XL8RSLAYYYTERX) January 10, 2024
he’s literally so corny….. no commentary, no meaning behind it… just doing it for the sake of publicity and press and people being mad so he can act unbothered…. hate people with artistry as shallow and nonexistent as this…. you’re a corny untalented SHAM https://t.co/VtI8CSxo3z
— adi (@folieadieux) January 8, 2024
Lmao bro gotta do something corny and controversial to get his music attention again https://t.co/x6BiRTjHxo
— 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝘆’😵💫 (@OvOBrezzzy) January 9, 2024
When your music isn’t good enough so you have to resort to blasphemy and controversy to remain relevant. https://t.co/O1tVyKVU3z
— Wakey (@kykieitswakey) January 9, 2024
I love him but I wish he’d aim higher than making noise by trolling judgmental Christians bc the artistry is actually there and, I dunno, he did this last promo round. https://t.co/0sVTItR2EN
— Rae Sanni (@raesanni) January 10, 2024
this is so fucking disrespectful i couldnt even explain it and everyone silencing christians are so fucking disgusting.. you guys are forgetting that christianity is a religion too not a fucking online meme you guys have made it into https://t.co/3N331L7mSw
— nini ⋆୨୧˚ | armageddon (@xyaespa) January 8, 2024
if he mocked a certain religion he would be blacklisted from everything pic.twitter.com/wynXxTcHPj https://t.co/UBHcm1QRWk
— ALLY (@swctncr) January 8, 2024
being “controversial” the only time anybody pays attention to you pic.twitter.com/8qK9cPHLTj https://t.co/qXA8haXd6U
— E ☆ (@6inchsooyaa) January 8, 2024
https://twitter.com/mazzypopstar/status/1744425108972982681?s=20
you are so much more talented than these outrage marketing schemes https://t.co/EUoiSgHWcA
— yoms (@sukiiyomi) January 8, 2024
“do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” Galatians 6 https://t.co/PKlUFSvpRk
— mabs (@mabssxo) January 8, 2024
Despite this, there are also many fans who defended the artist’s choice with some reposted by the “Old Town Road” singer. They called out the detractors as “homophobic” and pointed out multiple straight artists who have heavily used religion in their music that the public “praised” and “were silent” but when a black gay man like Lil Nas goes for this idea, it is “mockery”. In addition, the users demanded to stop “gatekeeping” the religion and to wait for the actual release to judge as it was only a preview.
“The reason a lot of yall are not understanding J Christ and Lil Nas X’s new era in general is because you also blatantly misunderstood Montero (Call Me By Your Name) and its message. There is no mocking happening anywhere. It’s just art like so many other artists have done,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Imagine telling Lil Nas X that he’s not allowed to use the iconography of the world’s largest religion, that shaped the western culture and informed ALL of the western art, to express himself, like ALL western artists have been doing for the past couple of millenia,” argued by another user.
If y’all truly cared about religion like yall say u do
You could easily see how heavy of a Christian he & his family is
Yall wanna gatekeep people from religion so bad
Its not him making religion look bad it’s yall making it look bad by saying who can&cant be a Christian https://t.co/lQQpa0Ts08
— los ⁶ ✞ (@ULovLos) January 8, 2024
*Lil Nas X comes out as gay*
“OH HE’S GOING TO HELL!”
*Lil Nas X goes to hell & kills the devil in a music video*
“OH HE’S A DEVIL WORSHIPPER”
*Lil Nas X has artwork relating to God*
“THIS IS MOCKERY”
When will yall understand that this man is going to live his own life? pic.twitter.com/XuXuglE0uW
— ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ (@lilnasxmajor) January 8, 2024
https://twitter.com/ricob_/status/1744417261023350824?s=20
Since he came out as gay, y’all crucify Lil’ Nas X for breathing. I’ve seen more chatter about him being nailed to the cross than when Da Baby recently did it..
Y’all hyped up Kanye West so much, he believe he is Jesus.. Y’all forgot the initial “Yeezus” album cover? I’m sleep.. pic.twitter.com/LRiZ5KrYYU
— Jerome Trammel, M.B.A (@MrJeromeTrammel) January 8, 2024
https://twitter.com/LNXNews/status/1744423645538066725?s=20
Madonna was literally setting crosses ON FIRE all those years ago, and everybody calls it ‘cunt’ and screams ‘mother’ today. But when Lil Nas does not even a fraction of that, it’s blasphemy and mockery? Please. https://t.co/abFbTtlC5b
— ⋆ (@DIONZRA) January 8, 2024
Everyone talking about Lil Nas X disrespecting religion I need you to go outside and touch the first green thing you see cuz I know you ain’t say nun about Kendrick or Pac or Cole or Ye or Jay or…..
— Mr. Gray (@GaryLGray) January 8, 2024
Imagine telling Lil Nas X that he’s not allowed to use the iconography of the world’s largest religion, that shaped the western culture and informed ALL of the western art, to express himself, like ALL western artists have been doing for the past couple of millenia
— Joana Eça de Queiroz # +18 (@Jo_EQ) January 8, 2024
Like I’m sorry but this outrage so fake and if I say what it REALLY is, they gonna boo me- https://t.co/ln3PftWnMh
— 🐎itssKeonLuv is Kuntry🐎 (@it55K3onCh0mps) January 9, 2024
he’s not the first or last to do it yall just homophobes https://t.co/Zl1qglNNgA pic.twitter.com/CAYC6Af4tH
— leo (@musicofleo) January 9, 2024
Imma be honest, the way y'all post drugs, money, porn and curse all day on this app I never knew y'all were even a speck of Christian until Lil nas X fcked up them plate of communion crackers
— Desto🩷💭 (@partywithdestoo) January 10, 2024
In response to the backlash he is receiving, the singer wrote in his X account, “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. I’m not making fun of shit. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu.”
“the problem is y’all judge everything at face value. i’ve never released a visual without an underlying meaning and y’all know that. but since i’m a troll y’all discount my art as just “pissing ppl off”,” he continued in another tweet.
Furthermore, the song “J Christ” is expected to be part of Lil Nas’s sophomore LP which is reported to be released this 2024.
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