PREVIEW

Lil Nas X addresses religious backlash over music videos. During an appearance on Jay Shetty's podcast, On Purpose, on Monday, the Old Town Road hitmaker discussed the religious backlash he's faced over his recent single J Christ and 2021's Montero (Call Me by Your Name). ”I've never been here, mentally and even physically, where... you push your art into the world, and it's received negatively by the majority," the singer told Jay. "But then, like, also understanding why, and having to see it through.” He joked that he enjoyed chaos "when I can control it", adding, "I'm usually strategic with things and I can kind of move the conversation.” Nas called his newfound lack of control "depressing", explaining, "You can become super angry with yourself.” He specifically addressed the recent uproar surrounding the release of his comeback single J Christ. The artwork and music video featured imagery of him affixed to a cross like Jesus Christ. ”Artistically, it was just supposed to be, like, I'm returning, I'm back, I'm back like him, do you know what I mean? And it turned into this whole thing where it was me trying to dunk on Christians or something," he lamented. ”And that was never what it was. And then I looked at the video with me, like, eating the communion or whatnot, and I was like, 'Okay, this looks really bad on paper - this thing that I thought was just, like, a little jokey, fun video.’" The 24-year-old, real name Montero Hill, admitted he thought about his Christian family members, adding, "I'm like, 'Wow, do they see this as that, too? If they do, like, that's really messed up.’" J Christ debuted at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month, a far cry from Nas' usual position at the top of the charts. ”I'm proud of my song and the video. Everyone expected me to be upset or something," he previously told Variety. ”I’m thankful that I get to even be in the charts and still be in the conversation.” THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT