Lil Nas X Defends Unveiling Of New Single ‘J CHRIST’

Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X has been making headlines once again with his latest creative endeavor. The musician recently unveiled the cover artwork for his upcoming single, J CHRIST, featuring himself in a portrayal reminiscent of Jesus on the cross. While some have raised eyebrows, Lil Nas X wants to make it clear that he has no intention of offending any religious groups with his artistic expression.

In a tweet, the 24-year-old artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, shared his excitement for the new single: “MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME.” Accompanying the message was the striking “J CHRIST” cover image, along with the announcement.

But Lil Nas X didn’t stop there. He also quoted a previous post that suggested his upcoming single “features a very beloved popstar” and added, “It was God.”

Responding to some fans’ tweets expressing their enthusiasm for his new music, the Old Town Road singer returned to the social media platform to provide clarity less than an hour after sharing the J CHRIST single cover. 

He wrote, “the crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of Jesus. Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world.” 

“I’m not making fun of s—. y’all just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. Stfu,” he added.

The artist also shared messages from supporters who questioned why he faces more backlash than other artists, such as DaBaby or Kanye West, who have also used religious imagery in their art.

This isn’t the first time Lil Nas X has stirred controversy with his use of religious themes. In March 2021, he faced backlash for his music video MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name), in which he portrayed himself as the devil and gave the devil a lap dance.

Reflecting on the controversies, Lil Nas X opened up about his strained relationship with BET in 2022, emphasizing that the tensions predated that year’s nominations. He stated in an interview with Rolling Stone, “My relationship with BET has been painful and strained for quite some time. It didn’t start with this year’s nominations like most people might think. They did let me perform on their show last year, but only after [I gave] assurances that I was not a satanist or devil worshiper, and that my performance would be appropriate for their audience.”