What Lil Nas X's Blasphemy Controversy Really Means | Opinion

Just a few years ago, Lil Nas X cemented his place in pop culture history by sliding down a pole into Hell and twerking for Satan himself.

In a music video, of course.

The backlash was huge—but so were the views. The music video for Call Me By Your Name has over 500,000,000 plays on YouTube and counting. So is it any wonder that the 24-year-old decided to crank the blasphemy up a notch for his latest single J CHRIST?

Nas, who was born Montero Lamar Hill, has already earned himself some extra scrutiny by being one of the few openly gay rappers. In a music scene that is known for having its own issues with homophobia, it was certainly no small feat for him to come out. But judging by the reactions many have had to his latest song, he may have pushed the controversy as far as it can go.

In case you haven't seen the video, here's a rundown of what happens.

Nas appears in the video in various forms. In one scene, a demonic version of the Old Town Road star is seen boiling human limbs in the pits of Hell. In another, a white cladded Nas plays a game of basketball against Satan. But the shot of Nas hanging from a cross was almost certainly what sparked the outrage. In the build up to the song's release, the rapper had teased that he'd modelled his return on "the greatest comeback of all"—Jesus Christ.

Throw in a few videos of Nas taking shots of alcohol whilst dressed as the Son of God, and you have a social media firestorm. Many Christians took to X/Twitter to blast him for taking things too far, with even some of his fans bemoaning the song as a publicity stunt.

Christian rappers were particularly vocal in their outrage, with Bryson Gray branding him "a gay demon" who needed to be branded a "degenerate heathen" by Christians.

This approach might hit the secular ear as being harsh, but it does have Biblical merit. The God of the Bible doesn't take kindly to being mocked, so Gray at least has a leg to stand on.

The reaction that I found troubling came when some Christians drew comparisons between themselves and Islamic extremists. Namely, that they were too meek and mild, and they should replicate something along the lines of the Charlie Hebdo attack.

One social media user fumed: "[Christians] let s**t slide fr [for real] because I promise you the Muslims would've had decapitated Lil Nas X head long time ago if he dared play with Islam."

No matter where you looked, the sentiment seemed familiar—mocking Christianity was low hanging fruit and going after Islam would have been too dangerous. But why should anybody want mocking a religion to bring violent retribution?

I think it comes from a place of frustration. Christianity is the biggest religious influence in the Western world. Its iconography is instantly recognizable to the vast majority of people. And with Christianity teaching its followers to turn the other cheek, it's understandable why some artists feel at liberty to take a few pot shots at the faith.

One needs only think back to Piss Christ, the crucifix submerged in urine which generated a firestorm back in the 1980s. Christianity is an easy target. But that's no reason for anyone to look at hardline Islamism enviously.

Freedom of speech covers mockery of religion, for better, or for worse. Even when that mockery isn't done in a particularly creative, or new way. For what it's worth, since the video hit the internet, Nas has taken to social media to explain his intentions behind the controversial song.

"I know I messed up really bad this time. I can act unbothered all I want, but it's definitely taken a mental toll on me," Lil Nas X said in an Instagram video. "I do want my Christian fans to know that I am not against you. I was put on this Earth to bring people closer together and promote love. That's who I am."

For an artist who relished in trolling people with his "Satan shoes," Lil Nas X's statement seemed remarkably sincere.

Is this a turning point for the singer? Will he leave blasphemy behind and rely solely on musical merit? Or will he still be doing this shtick 40 years from now, à la Madonna?

Ben Thompson is a freelancer writer.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.