Lil Nas X “song about gay sex” tops Billboard charts

Lil Nas X has defied a homophobic backlash as his controversial new hit Montero (Call Me By Your Name) debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

The 21-year-old openly gay star has proved he’s no one-hit wonder by scoring his second chart-topper, after the first, Old Town Road, made history in 2019 by holding the No. 1 spot for a record-breaking 19 weeks.

“Y’all told a 19 year old who had just escaped the lowest point of his life that he would never have a hit again,” Lil Nas X tweeted in response to the news of his latest success. “You told him to stop while he’s ahead. he could’ve gave up. but 4 multi platinum songs and 2 #1’s later, he’s still here. thank you to my team and my fans!”

He also shared his tongue-in-cheek delight about “getting a song about gay sex to the top of the billboard charts…”

Lil Nas X has said that the song was partly inspired by the gay romance film Call Me By Your Name as well as his own love life, specifically a man he fell for who was still in the closet.

Montero’s spectacular video sparked conservative outrage in the US when it was released on 26 March, both for its homoerotic visuals as well as its religious imagery, which includes Lil Nas X giving Satan a lapdance.

In a letter to his younger self posted online to accompany the video’s debut, the artist said he hoped it “will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist” and will “make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be.”

The rapper and singer single-handedly took on his critics on Twitter with aplomb, telling scandalised politicians to do their jobs and to focus on more important issues. Lil Nas X also took down homophobes without flinching, refusing to back down when it comes to his work and his message.

Limited edition “Satan shoes”, the star’s collaboration with an American art collective that repurposed 666 pairs of Nike sneakers, sold out in less than a minute but their distribution was blocked by the courts after Nike objected.

Lil Nas X broke new ground in the music world in June 2019 when he came out as gay, becoming the first artist to do so while topping the American charts.

y’all told a 19 year old who had just escaped the lowest point of his life that he would never have a hit again. you told him to stop while he’s ahead. he could’ve gave up. but 4 multi platinum songs and 2 #1’s later, he’s still here. thank you to my team and my fans! ily 🏹🤍 https://t.co/cW0UiXjJOk

— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) April 5, 2021

me after getting a song about gay sex to the top of the billboard charts pic.twitter.com/UJK5HpDCOA

— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) April 5, 2021