Lil Nas X says he was ‘pushed by the universe’ to come out
The ‘Old Town Road’ singer Lil Nas X has said he was “pushed by the universe” to come out as gay.
In a cover feature for this week’s (August 15) Time magazine, the singer said he felt compelled to come out during Pride month.
The 20-year-old came out in a series of not-so-cryptic tweets on World Pride day (June 30).
“Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care,” he tweeted. “But before this month ends I want y’all to listen closely to C7osure.”
After online reaction to his tweet that questioned if he was coming out as gay, Lil Nas X added: “Deadass thought I made it obvious.”
LOVE IT!!! A gay, hip-hop, country boy is ruling the summer of 2019! How does this get any better?!? https://t.co/oAKSU2wOUw
— Frank H. Carter III (@Songboy3) August 15, 2019
Lil Nas X’s hit, ‘Old Town Road’, which features Billy Ray Cyrus, dominated Billboard charts in June.
In the Time magazine interview, Lil Nas X said that he wasn’t planning on coming out, as he was taught from a young age that homosexuality “is never going to be OK.” He also feared losing fans.
“I know the people who listen to this the most, and they’re not accepting of homosexuality,” he said.
As @LilNasX himself put it: “It’s crazy how any baby born after march has not lived in a world where old town road wasn’t number 1.”
???
Read the full cover story, by @andrewrchow: https://t.co/x89jDQ5bwF pic.twitter.com/HnAlqiIsl8
— TIME (@TIME) August 15, 2019
But as his hit continued to be played on the radio during Pride month, it made him rethink his decision to remain in the closet.
“In June, I’m seeing Pride flags everywhere and seeing couples holding hands–little stuff like that.”
“I never would have done that if I wasn’t in a way pushed by the universe,” he said.
❤️? pic.twitter.com/NuLqapVvcR
— nope (@LilNasX) August 15, 2019
Since coming out, Lil Nas X has received mostly positive reactions from fans. He replied to some of the online haters on Twitter himself, saying that the next person to say something offensive would be “getting kissed”.
Summing up the whole experience, Lil Nas X tweeted at the end of July: “Last year I was sleeping on my sisters floor, had no money, struggling to get plays on my music, suffering from daily headaches, now I’m gay.”