Lil Nas X performs onstage at the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on 27 June 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Lil Nas X stole the BET Awards (and a kiss from a dancer) with his most epic “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” performance to date.
The Grammy winner wowed with an Egyptian-themed rendition of his hit single at the awards show on Sunday (27 June).
Paying homage to Michael Jackson’s 1991 “Remember the Time” music video, Lil Nas X danced in a pharaoh-inspired skirt and armour, surrounded by topless dancers.
Lil Nas X pushed his BET Awards performance to the next level, ending the song by wrapping his arm around one dancer while sharing a passionate kiss with another.
YESSSSSS! @LilNasX just did that! 🔥🔥 #BETAwards #CulturesBiggestNight pic.twitter.com/Ft0AzAitvJ
— BET (@BET) June 28, 2021
The commanding performance and searing exchange quickly went viral.
Legendary rapper Diddy commented on the iconic moment, advising others to “be fearless” like Lil Nas.
Lil Nas X did that!! Be fearless!!! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
— LOVE (@Diddy) June 28, 2021
Lil Nas X’s fans heaped praises on the button-pushing moment on social media.
Lil Nas X swallowed that young brotha’s whole tongue on live TV. I love that for him. #BETAwards
— April (@ReignOfApril) June 28, 2021
Me, watching Lil Nas X make-out with another black man on national TV during Pride month pic.twitter.com/TKX7AO6mAy
— The Casual Sex Captain (@jiggyjayy2) June 28, 2021
Lil Nas X done kissed that man at the BET Awards AND on a Sunday… good for him. I know the homophobes are SCRAMBLING pic.twitter.com/ETcxweJ6Yc
— Icy Barb❄️ (@BRANMINAJ) June 28, 2021
LIL NAS X A FUCKIN KING LETS GO
— kevin abstract (@kevinabstract) June 28, 2021
Of course, there were some naysayers.
One Twitter claimed that Lil Nas X’s performance disrespected African culture. However, the singer was having none of it.
He replied: “Y’all really like to pretend homosexuality didn’t exist in African culture.”
y’all really like to pretend homosexuality didn’t exist in african culture https://t.co/mGmah0CbP9
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) June 28, 2021
One fan joked that after Lil Nas X’s memorable appearance as a musical guest on SNL in May, during which he ripped his pants on live television, his solution was clearly to just go without pants entirely.
Last live performance: ripped his pants
Next live performance: fuck it, no pants https://t.co/4oaJD6qdVc— Katrina ❤️💙 (@sawyermomee) June 28, 2021
Nas addressed his now-viral wardrobe malfunction during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May, and jokingly vowed in a tweet that he would “never trust pants again”.
Clearly, he’s following through on this promise, turning up to the BET Awards in a dramatic gown.
The dress, by designer Andrea Gross, had a powerful hidden meaning.
The designer told Berlin magazine Kaltbult that the 2019 collection from which the gown originated was designed to “bring light to the problems of the 21st century” , and to critique political and religious ideologies that “have led the populations for a long time in (the) wrong way.”