Lil Nas X is ‘living life to the fullest’ since coming out as gay
Lil Nas X performs at Webster Hallin New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty for BuzzFeed)
‘Old Town Road’ rapper Lil Nas X has opened up about how coming out has changed his life.
The 20-year-old said that he no longer cares what others think of him since announcing that he is gay.
“Live your life to its fullest potential and don’t really care too much about what other people think of you,” he told GQ Hype.
“I used to say that cliché, but I never really lived by it, until now.”
The artist admitted that he has struggled with “having to be a voice” for the LGBT+ community, but forgets his worries when people tell him: “You’re making a way for us.”
Lil Nas X came out during Pride Month
Lil Nas X was catapulted to the spotlight with the success of his single ‘Old Town Road’, which recently dethroned Mariah Carey’s ‘One Sweet Day’ as the longest-running US number one in history.
He came out as gay in a series of cryptic tweets on June 30, the last day of Pride Month.
“Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care,” he wrote.
I was considering just taking it to the grave.
He confirmed that he identifies as gay during an interview with BBC Breakfast on July 5, and suggested that he had considered keeping his sexuality a secret for the rest of his life.
“It was something I was considering just never doing ever, just taking to the grave or something, but I don’t want to live my entire life not doing what I want to do,” he said.
Lil Nas X faced backlash
Though public support has been largely positive, the rapper underlined that neither the country or hip-hop communities are traditionally welcoming of LGBT+ people.
“It’s not really accepting in either,” he said, adding that he isn’t angry at fans who have trolled him online “because I understand they want that reaction.”
Lil Nas X holds the record for longest-running US number one. (@LilNasX/Instagram)
One person to react in a less than positive manner was rapper Young Thung, who said he felt Lil Nas X “probably shouldn’t have told the world” he was gay because fans might see his music in a different light.
“These days, motherf*****s, it’s just all judgment. It ain’t even about the music no more,” he told YouTuber Adam22.
