As the backlash for his latest single, ‘J Christ,’ rages on, rapper-singer Lil Nas X took to the ‘On Purpose‘ podcast recently to dish on the fallout and the impact it’s made on him personally and professionally.
Like we previously reported, the Omer Fedi-produced cut – believed to be the first from LNX’s forthcoming sophomore studio album – rubbed Christians the wrong way with its religious imagery including scenes of the GRAMMY winner playing basketball with Satan and being crucified like Jesus.
The blowback from the visual and its promotion prompted the hitmaker (born Montero Hill) to issue an apology, which later proved to be too little too late as ‘J Christ’ opened on the Billboard Hot 100 with some of his lowest first-week figures to date.
Hill maintains the backlash was unwarranted, however, as the meaning behind the clip was taken out of context.
“[‘J Christ’] was this thing that artistically was just supposed to be like, I’m returning … I’m back like Him,” he told host Jay Shetty. “It turned into this whole thing where it was me trying to dunk on Christians or something, and that was never what it was. Never.”
And while the 24-year-old doubled down on his stance that he is not remorseful for making the video, he does understand how it could be perceived as insensitive.
“This [was a] thing that I thought was just like a little jokey fun video. I also had to think about how many of my family members are Christian, like my grandmothers and stuff, and like aunties and things like that,” he said after stating the tune’s promotional clips look “bad on paper.” “I’m like, ‘Wow, do they see this as that too?’ If they do, you know, that’s really messed up. And it makes me sad.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Montero revealed his “place in his career” – especially as it relates to the response to ‘J Christ’ – scares him.
“I’ve never been here – mentally and physically – you’ve been so focused and zoned in on what you’re doing, and you push your art out into the world and it’s kind of received negatively by the majority … but then also understanding why, you know, and having to see it through,” he relayed. “So I guess that’s where I’m at right now and my next move, you know, the things that I’m planning on right now, I feel like somewhere in here that’s gonna be this magical moment that I can’t even take credit for.”
Click here to watch the lengthy chat in full.