Lil Nas X Defends Himself Against The Culture Wars: 'Y'all Are Not Gonna Win Bro'

If there was any doubt that Lil Nas X is one of the primary pop stars on the planet, look to the sequence of events that's taken place within the past 72 hours to alleviate it.


On Friday, he dropped "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," a rather personalized song about queer love that he wrote was "very scary" to release. "People be mad, they are going to mention I'm pushing an agenda," he wrote in an accompanying note on social media. However the truth is, I am. The agenda to prepare people stay the fuck out of other people's lives and stop dictating who they should be."


He was right. People were irritated! Not at the song specifically, however at the video's much-discussed, much-shared climax — in which he gives Satan a lap dance — and at the subsequent news that he'd be releasing "Satan Shoes," black sneakers featuring an inverted cross and actual human blood. It's a good tie-in! (They are already sold out.) Lil Nas X has never missed a moment to prepare the biggest impact possible, and this was no exception.


Because Newton's third law states that every Satanic twerk has an equal and opposite heavenly prayer, the responses to this were swift (and predictable). Kristi Noem, South Dakota's governor, tweeted about the exclusivity of the sneakers, saying, nevertheless do you suggest what's more exclusive? Their God-given eternal soul." Rapper Joyner Lucas bemoaned the video's content in light of how LNX had become a preference of children thanks to "Old Town Road." And there was plenty more.


Lil Nas X, expert poster, succinctly and resolutely shut off these (and other) criticisms, notably centering his replies around his right to prepare the sort of art he wants: "I made the choice to prepare the music video. I am an adult. I am not gonna spend my entire career attempting to cater to your children. That is your job."


He told Governor Roem, "ur a whole governor and u on here tweeting about some damn shoes. Do ur job!" He released a winking "Satan's Extended Version" of the song. He uploaded a "apology" for the sneakers on YouTube that is hilariously not an apology at all.


And, in my personalized preference moment, LNX also put a new version of "Montero" on YouTube — a "MONTERO nevertheless ur in the washroom of hell while lil nas is giving satan a lap dance in the other room" video that plays on equally good videos like this and this.


All his handiwork goes to show something that's evident to each person who is even a little as online as Lil Nas X: He had a head begin, he understands what he's doing, and he plans to win. This is all free promo for his new single. So, as an educated man once said, don't care, didn't ask, stream "Call Me By Your Name."