Lil Nas X isn't finished with the Christian references in his music — and religious groups are not happy about it.
The rapper released his latest single, “J CHRIST” on January 12, complete with a music video of biblical proportions. Lil Nas X teased his new music earlier this month and said his song “features a very beloved popstar.” He later joked that the “popstar” was God.
In the video, Lil Nas X is dressed as a snatched version of Jesus Christ. The rapper is shown in what appears to be heaven with a white gown, long wavy hair (and a halo), white acrylic nails, and a choker that says “SEX.” The cover art for the song features Lil Nas X on the cross like Jesus.
At one point in the music video — which also features celebrity impersonators including Barack Obama and Michael Jackson — Lil Nas X is shown playing a one-on-one basketball game against the devil himself.
“MY NEW SINGLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL TIME,” Lil Nas X tweeted.
Naturally, after releasing another song dedicated to biblical imagery, many religious groups took issue with him dressing like Jesus and featuring Satan in the video. The rapper posted that the new video and image wasn't a “mockery of jesus.”
“Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world,” he continued. “I’m not making fun of sh*t. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu.”
But after sincerely defending his art, the musician then hilariously responded to someone who referred to Lil Nas X as a “satanist," and that he is idolized over other public figures like Andrew Tate.
Lil Nas X quote reposted: “I’ve crossed satan up and broke his ankles, snapped his neck and literally killed him, made a song referencing the return of jesus, and somehow yall still think im a satanist. I can not win lmaooo."
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Being the expert internet troll that he is, the rapper also falsely claimed that he had been accepted into the Virginia-based Christian college Liberty University. Lil Nas X posted a fake acceptance letter on Instagram claiming that he would be attending school as a biblical studies major. The university confirmed to multiple sources that the letter was false, which is right in line with the rapper's sense of humor.
Lil Nas X has been known for toying with images of the devil; he faced backlash in 2021 for his “Call Me By Your Name (Montero)” music video, which showed him giving a lap dance to satan. He told Rolling Stone in 2022 that his artistic vision affected his relationship with the BET Awards.
“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,” he said at the time.
Watch the full music video for “J CHRIST” here:
