Lil Nas X Reacts to BET Awards Snub: 'An Outstanding Zero Nominations Again'

The Grammy-winner clapped back at those who questioned whether he deserves any nods, tweeting, "I just feel like Black gay ppl have to fight to be seen."

Lil Nas X performs onstage during the 64th annual GRAMMY awards
Getty

Image via Getty/Emma McIntyre

Lil Nas X performs onstage during the 64th annual GRAMMY awards

Lil Nas X refused to bite his tongue.

The Grammy-winning artist took to Twitter on Wednesday to call out the BET Awards for yet another snub. Lil Nas X, who was also completely shut out in last year’s ceremony, expressed his frustration with a hefty dose of sarcasm.

“Thank you, BET Awards. An outstanding zero nominations again,” he wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “Black excellence!”

Lil Nas X responds 2022 BET Awards

Lil Nas X has only secured one nod from the BET Awards, for Best New Artist in 2020, and lost to Roddy Ricch. Many were surprised by the latest snub considering the success of his 2021 debut album Montero, which was eligible for nominations. The chart-topping project was placed on multiple year-end lists, went platinum in the United States, and received a slew of accolades including five Grammy nominations.

The 23-year-old pointed this out to a user who questioned why he deserved to be recognized by the BET Awards. “What you put out?” the person wrote. “And don’t use that gay shit as excuse. Don’t nobody care no more.”

“IDK maybe 3 of the biggest songs of last year and a critically acclaimed album,” he responded. “I feel like that should’ve helped me a bit.”

Lil Nas X responds 2022 BET Awards

Lil Nas X, who came out as gay in summer 2019, went on to highlight some of the struggles he and the rest of the Black LGBTQ community have faced.

“I just feel like Black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world,” he explained, “and even when we make it to the top, mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”

Lil Nas X responds 2022 BET Awards

Others also argued that Lil Nas X didn’t receive any nominations because his genre-fusing music is widely considered “pop,” rather than rap or R&B. He quickly clapped back at one user and reminded them the BET Awards include pop categories.

“No offense, but u are literally of caucasian persuasion and trying to school me on an award show I’ve watched my entire childhood,” Lil Nas X tweeted. “It’s not the hip-hop awards + they have a pop category+ ratio.”

Lil Nas X responds 2022 BET Awards

Lil Nas X will kick off his first-ever-headlining tour Long Live Montero in September. The North American leg will include stops in Chicago, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, and Miami, while the European leg will include dates in Berlin, London, Paris, and Barcelona.

The 2022 BET Awards will be broadcasted June 26 from L.A.’s Microsoft Theater. Doja Cat leads this year’s nominees with six nods, while Drake and Ari Lennox secured four nominations each. 

Latest in Music