Lil Nas X Spurs Renewed Blasphemy Accusations with Bizarre Marketing Campaign for New Single

Topline

Lil Nas X is generating a buzz ahead of the release of his new single “J Christ” on Friday. He has been stirring up controversy through various online stunts, including posting a video of himself dressed as Jesus taking shots and controversial claims about the music industry blackballing him. This has sparked criticism of his use of religious imagery, while others feel he is simply orchestrating these controversies for attention.

The rapper will release “J Christ” on Friday. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for … [+] iHeartMedia)

Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Key Facts

Lil Nas X, known for hits like “Old Town Road” and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” began teasing new music in December, stating he’s entering his “Christian era.”

He has been using Christian imagery in the marketing for his new single, “J Christ,” by posting cover art depicting himself as Jesus on the cross, claiming his new video will premiere in churches and uploading a TikTok video of himself dressed as Jesus while taking shots of red wine and eating communion wafers.

His online claims have become increasingly bizarre—including his reportedly false claim that he would attend the conservative Liberty University for Biblical studies. Some were quick to note the fake acceptance letter he posted was signed by the school’s now-deceased former president, Jerry Falwell.

The rapper also took aim at his label and the music industry in a series of videos, claiming he would drop his new music independently after a scuffle with Columbia Records—though his label has been promoting his new single on social media.

Lil Nas X also claimed the media stopped supporting him after he adopted religious imagery and vowed to “expose” the music industry for allegedly blackballing him—claims Billboard called “increasingly ridiculous.”

While some skeptics have accused the rapper of manufacturing controversies to market his new music, Lil Nas X has said “not everything is a troll,” and he criticized people for seeing “everything I do as a gimmick.”

Chief Critics

Some critics, including controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, took issue with Lil Nas X’s religious marketing tactics, with Tate calling him “weird” in a tweet. Kai Cenat, a popular streamer with more than 8 million Twitch and Instagram followers, said he “hates” the rapper for his treatment of Christianity and declared that God will “handle him.” Brett Cooper, a Daily Wire conservative commentator, accused Lil Nas X of “making a mockery” of Christianity. Some users popular on Christian TikTok posted videos critical of the rapper, and many of Lil Nas X’s recent TikTok comments are from users who say they’re praying for him or urging him to ditch the religious aesthetics.

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