When Lil Nas X hit the stage to perform at the BET Awards 2021, some people were upset with the theatrics, with one of them being rapper Benzino, who criticized Nas X’s performance on Instagram shortly after the performance. Now, Lil Nas X has issued an indirect response.
Earlier today (June 30), Lil Nas X quote-tweeted a Hot New Hip Hop article about Benzino calling his performance of “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” “uncomfortable” and “irresponsible.” With his signature wit at his back, Nas delivered a quippy reply in his tweet.
“I’m sorry but the thought of niggas sitting their kids down in the living room and telling them gay people exist is so hilarious to me,” Lil Nas X wrote in the tweet.
In the since-deleted IG post that led to the HNHH writeup, Benzino blamed BET and Nas X himself for the performance, which also included an epic Michael Jackson tribute.
“That shit BET pulled yesterday was lame asf,” Benzino wrote in the caption for the post. “It was too uncomfortable, too irresponsible, too forced and too irrelevant to the awards. Homie ain’t even hot like that for music anymore anyway. It’s a shame what all this is co[ming] to. I wish I has the backing to bring the Source Awards back.”
After facing a wave of backlash, Benzino deleted the post and made a point to say that he wasn’t homophobic and that he has gay friends. In that follow-up post he posed the question of how he would explain the performance to his kids, and that’s the part that Lil Nas X ended up responding to.
Despite facing criticism for the performance, Lil Nas X also got some big praise. After seeing the rapper’s performance, Diddy posted a tweet congratulating the boldness of his performance, which ended with Nas X kissing one of his dancers.
“Lil Nas X did that!! Be fearless!!!” the REVOLT chairman wrote for the tweet, which included multiple with hand-clapping emojis. For his part, Lil Nas X was quick to acknowledge the moment. Quote-tweeting the message, Nas X wrote, “WHATTT.”
See Lil Nas X’s response to Benzino’s comments, as well as Benzino’s original remarks for yourself just below.