Lil Nas X is getting Twitter all hot and bothered — again.
At the 2021 BET Awards on Sunday (June 27), Nas X performed a royal rendition his massive hit single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” Although he left his Satanic stripper pole at home this time, he still managed to make some viewers clutch their pearls.
The out rapper’s performance of “Montero” was a tribute to Michael Jackson’s to classic “Remember the Time” music video from 1992, complete with Ancient Egyptian imagery. After dancing with some fierce pharaohs, Nas X climbed the pyramid stairs onstage. He closed out the performance by sharing a steamy kiss with one of his male backup dancers.
Twitter was set ablaze by the same-sex smooch, which was first kiss between two Black men to air during the BET Awards in the show’s 20-year history. Celebrities like Diddy praised the act, but not everyone was happy about the onscreen lip-lock. One Twitter user blasted Lil Nas X for the kiss, writing, “Don’t use African culture for shits like this!!! Respect our ancestors.”
Nas X, the unofficial king of trolling, quote-retweeted the criticism with his own history lesson for the uneducated children out there:
y’all really like to pretend homosexuality didn’t exist in african culture https://t.co/mGmah0CbP9
— MONTERO (@LilNasX) June 28, 2021
As if we didn’t stan Lil Nas X already! Can we have him perform at every awards show?
Below, check out more tweets praising his “Montero” makeout.
On the last day of #pride 2021 @LilNasX got on the #BETAwards stage and kissed another guy.
If you grew up Black and gay, you know how major this is.
I live for this kid.
— Brandon (@beingbrandonlee) June 28, 2021
~ Everybody face after #LilNasX performance!! #betawards2021 pic.twitter.com/7GKwVeYya3
— ✨ (@Lovin_da_crew) June 28, 2021
Lil Nas X at the BET Awards.
That's it. That's the tweet. ️ @LilNasX pic.twitter.com/cYrTxpWUD4
— Consequence (@consequence) June 28, 2021
Lil Nas X done kissed that man at the BET Awards AND on a Sunday… good for him. I know the homophobes are SCRAMBLING pic.twitter.com/ETcxweJ6Yc
— Icy Barb❄️ (@ICYNICKIMINAJ) June 28, 2021
Lil Nas X just kissed a man on the BET awards stage and paid tribute to Michael Jackson. Imma let y’all finish but he slayed that.
— You Told Harpo To Beat Me (@AsToldByCarl) June 28, 2021