Show more sharing options

Lil Nas X appears to be repentant after upsetting Christian recording artists and
fans with his latest song, �J Christ,� whose cover art and music video appropriated
biblical imagery and themes and certainly delivered on the track�s promise: Give
�em somethin� viral.

The two-time Grammy Award winner debuted the controversial song Friday. In the
accompanying video, he appeared as a devil, an angel and Jesus Christ crucified on
a cross before mounting a comeback at a Met Gala-style event. He also navigates the
flooded high seas as Noah, citing a verse from Corinthians. There are plenty of
big-name doppelg�ngers preparing for judgment in the video too, but it was Lil Nas
X who got the brunt of brutal discernment in real life.
�When I did the artwork, I knew there would be some upset people or whatnot simply
�cause religion is a very sensitive topic for a lot of people. But I also didn�t
mean to, like, mock,� he said in a video posted on X and Instagram, explaining that
he wasn�t trying to be flippant.

�It was literally me saying, �Oh, I�m back. I�m back like Jesus.� That was the
whole thing,� he added. �I�m not the first person to dress up as Jesus. I�m not the
first rapper ... and I won�t be the last.�

The singer also acknowledged his track record with religious outrage, referencing
the firestorm he ignited with a 2021 music video because it contained satanic
imagery.

�And I know like given my history with the �Call Me By Your Name� video, anything
that I do related to religion can be seen as mockery. That was just not the case
with this,� he said.

MSCHF and Lil Nas X remade the Nike Air Max with a satanic-inspired design and a
drop of human blood in each shoe
ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS

Lil Nas X�s �Satan Shoes� go up in smoke as Nike settles for a recall by Mschf
April 9, 2021

ADVERTISEMENT

Saying that he hadn�t prepared a statement and was just speaking off the cuff, the
�Industry Baby� singer also addressed his communion-inspired promotional video
released last week � a sped-up clip that featured him in religious garb eating
wafers and drinking wine, which he referred to as �crackers and juice.� Lil Nas X
said that the clip was meant to �lighten the mood� and dial down the seriousness of
the discourse, not realizing the symbolism enshrined in the Christian sacrament and
how his take on it could be offensive.

�I did not mean it as a cannibalism thing or whatever the freak, but I do apologize
for that. I will say I am sorry for that. That was overboard. Though I don�t agree
with all of Christianity�s rules or whatnot. I know not everybody follows
Christianity by the book 100% or the world would be a lot crazier. But I do
apologize for that,� he said.

Lil Nas X is no stranger to controversy. The recording artist�s name was back in
people�s mouths earlier this month after comedian Dave Chappelle circled back to
the �Montero� brouhaha during his December Netflix special, �The Dreamer.� While
Chappelle put down the artist as the ultimate dreamer in his stand-up routine, Lil
Nas X fired back on X, writing: �yall gotta let call me by your name go, me and the
devil broke up 3 years ago. yall acting like children of divorce.�
Appearing less glib in Monday�s video, the recording artist explained why he felt
the need to address the latest tumult sincerely.

�This is not to try to get everybody on my good side or what not, this is more so
to clear my own head about my own decision,� he said. �I know I messed up really
bad this time and I can act unbothered all I want, but it�s definitely taken a
mental toll on me. ... I do want my Christian fans to know that I am not against
you. I was put on this earth to bring people closer together and promote love and
that�s who I am. I�m not like some evil demon guy trying to destroy everybody�s
values and stuff like that. That�s not me.�

Lil Nas X in a 2021 handout photo

MUSIC

Lil Nas X�s �Montero� and the delight of yet another satanic panic
March 29, 2021

He continued: �With the video, there�s no disrespect there. I thought [that by] me
clearly not being on the side of the devil in that video, [that] there was an
understanding there that I�m not trying to dis Christianity.�

The musician said that he hoped people could move past it because he�s excited
about �the rest of this era and things I have planned.�

�That�s all I have to say for right now. I�m sending you all love. I�m sending my
fans love. I�m sending the people who I hurt love,� he concluded.

MORE TO READ
A picture of Nicki Minaj in a pink dress and a veil. A picture of Megan Thee
Stallion in a purple dress
In Nicki Minaj-Megan Thee Stallion feud, nods to Megan�s Law become diss track
fodder
Jan. 30, 2024

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Country singer Morgan Wallen performs at Crypto.com
Arena during his Dangerous tour on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Morgan Wallen addresses his use of a racist slur in 2021: �There�s no excuse�
Dec. 7, 2023

Lil Wayne in a white button down shirt smiling and posing in front of a black
backdrop
Wax happening? Lil Wayne is the latest star to roast a botched wax figure: �You
tried tho�
Oct. 24, 2023

MUSICENTERTAINMENT & ARTS

Newsletter
It's a date

Get our L.A. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore
and experience our city.

Enter email address

Enter email address
SIGN ME UP
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Nardine Saad
Twitter
Instagram
Email
Facebook
Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics,
celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She
joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes,
flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.

MORE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Beyonce wears a large white cowboy hat, sunglasses anda jeweled blazer to a fashion
show
MUSIC

Hold �em! Beyonc� makes history as she tops Billboard�s country-music chart
Feb. 21, 2024

Rare-book dealer Glenn Horowitz, left, is seen in the supreme court hall way during
a break in proceedings, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in New York. A criminal case
involving handwritten lyrics to the classic rock megahit �Hotel California� and
other Eagles favorites went to trial Wednesday in New York, with three men accused
of scheming to thwart band co-founder Don Henley�s efforts to reclaim the allegedly
ill-gotten documents. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
WORLD & NATION

Criminal case over handwritten lyrics to �Hotel California� goes to trial

Feb. 21, 2024

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Lady Gaga performs onstage during The
Chromatica Ball Tour at Dodger Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Los Angeles,
California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Live Nation)
MUSIC

Marry the �Fortnite�: Lady Gaga finally sets Epic Games entry as �Festival�
headliner
Feb. 21, 2024

LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 17, 2024: Mindchatter DJing at The Spotlight in Hollywood on
Saturday, February 17, 2024. (Chiara Alexa / For The Times)
MUSIC

The Spotlight was one of L.A.�s oldest gay bars. A Hollywood nightlife boom brought
it back.
Feb. 21, 2024

SUBSCRIBERS ARE READING

FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Goodbye carport, hello ADU: A tiny parking spot is reborn as a stunning live-work
studio
L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2024 March primary
Voter guide to the 2024 California primary election
Endorsement: The Times� recommendations for open Los Angeles County Superior Court
judge seats
FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Steve Garvey touts �family values� in his Senate bid. Some of his kids tell another
story
ADVERTISEMENT
LATEST MUSIC
Sherri Shepherd in a brown suit standing next to Kelly Rowland in a long brown,
checkered coat against a dark purple backdrop
ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS

Kelly Rowland gets �gorgeous� dressing room from Sherri Shepherd after �Today�
drama
10 minutes ago

Beyonce in a deep-neck dress sitting in a reflective room

ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS

Beyonc� says hair-care line C�cred has personal roots, including her psoriasis
battle
Feb. 20, 2024

Madonna in a bejeweled black jacket looking over her right shoulder and smiling
MUSIC

Madonna and a dancer in stilettos fell at a Seattle show � she didn�t get hung up
on it
Feb. 20, 2024

North Hollywood, CA - February 10: Perry Ferrell, frontman of Porno for Pyros and
founder of Lollapalooza, an annual festival of multiple genres, is photographed
during a break from practicing before beginning the band's farewell tour at a
studio in North Hollywood Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles
Times)
MUSIC

Perry Farrell gives �punk-jazz� weirdos Porno for Pyros one last spark in a fond
farewell
Feb. 20, 2024

Paul McCartney in a blue long-sleeve shirt on a stage holding up his left hand in a
fist, while holding a guitar
MUSIC

Paul McCartney and his stolen bass come together after more than 50 years:
�Grateful�
Feb. 16, 2024

Follow Us