Lil Nas X Attacking BET For Discrimination is Just About Perfect
I have to admit, I absolutely love this. The media and popular culture have created a monster in Lil Nas X, and now he’s uncontrollable. I can’t think of a more appropriate narrative for 2022 than the BET Awards—which of course were founded in their entirety to be inclusive to Black artists—being called out for their lack of inclusivity.
The BET Award are Sunday (6-26), and Lil Nas X is angry that he was not nominated for any awards. On June 1st when the nominations were announced, he tweeted out “thank you bet awards. an outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence.” He later deleted the tweet as part of a series of missives ranting about his lack of nominations, but then a week later released a “diss track” to social media, saying “fuck BET.” This is also when Lil Nas X started pushing the idea that he wasn’t being bitter for not being nominated, but that it was blatant homophobia at BET that kept him from being considered for any awards in 2022.
But this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Why? Because Lil Nas X has been nominated for and won BET Awards in the past, and well after he came out as gay.
At the 2019 BET Hip-Hop Awards, Lil Nas X was both nominated and won Single of the Year, as well as Best Collaborative Duo or Group for his remix of “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus. He was also nominated for Best New Hip-Hop Artist. At the 2020 BET Awards, he was nominated for Best New Artist. Then in 2021, he was nominated for both Best Hip-Hop Video and Impact Track for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
If you’re keeping track, that is six total nominations, and two wins in total from the BET Awards and BET Hip-Hop Awards. Lil Nas X has also performed multiple times on BET Awards presentations. So when he said in his initial statement, “an outstanding zero nominations again,” this is just incorrect.
We’re now supposed to believe that despite all these accolades BET has bestowed to Lil Nas X in the past, all of a sudden and out of the blue, BET has decided to discriminate against a guy they previously honored, solely because he’s gay? It seems extremely, extremely implausible, especially since organizations like BET are going out of their way to specifically honor LGBT performers as opposed to vice versa, just like they’ve done for Lil Nas X in the past. They nominated his “Montero” video specifically, which is the one where he simulates sex with Satan. So if they had some issue with his sexuality, it probably would have come up then, and didn’t. They recognized it.
Maybe the BET voters just thought there were better artists and projects this time around. BET said in a statement, “At BET, we are passionate advocates for the wonderful diversity that exists within our community. We are committed to using all of our platforms to provide visibility and inclusion for all of the many intersections of the Black community.”
But of course, if you can’t be good, be a victim, and the media will carry your water, and rarely question the validity of your claims. In fact, they will jump right into the fray on your behalf, because that’s what will make them look erudite to their constituencies. Meanwhile, this situation really shows off the irony and trappings of the “woke” agenda. You can never be woke enough, and eventually the woke mob will come for you, no matter how woke you happen to be yourself, including one of the most woke media entities out there in BET.
What does all of this have to do with country music? Because this is a similar grift that was perpetrated in 2018 when Billboard decided to remove “Old Town Road” from their country charts because he was found to have purposely manipulated the system, and for some reason, the entirety of country music was accused of being racist for it. In fact, the one entity that actually had anything to do with it—Billboard—was virtually spared from any of the criticism or discussion surrounding the matter. It was all foisted upon country music in general.
RELATED: Lil Nas X, The Media Echo Chamber, & Shane Morris’s Vile Past
And similar to the BET situation, whenever people bring up the Lil Nas X and how “country music” screwed him over, they fail to mention that the Country Music Association, or CMAs, actually nominated and eventually awarded Lil Nas X (and Billy Ray Cyrus) for Musical Event of the Year for “Old Town Road” in 2019. That’s right, Lil Nas X is a CMA Award winner, while Country Music Hall of Famer’s Marty Robbins and Tom T. Hall never won one, future Hall of Famers Dwight Yoakam, Gene Watson, and Rosanne Cash never won one, along with a dozen other high profile country stars.
If there was any question still remaining if Lil Nas X was an honest broker, it should be eliminated with his dishonest, and unfounded attack on the BET Awards. Are the BET Awards a reputable organization? My guess is just like every awards organization, they’re likely issues with corruption. But Lil Nas X has been a beneficiary of that system in the past, and may be a beneficiary of it in the future.
Of course Lil Nas X is being both ungrateful for the praise BET has given him in the past (he later urinated on one of his BET awards), and being self-absorbed for needing the praise and acceptance of any awards apparatus. But there’s also the possibility Lil Nas X is glad he wasn’t nominated, because he can get way more mileage out of posing as a victim as opposed to potentially winning some award. This story has been entertainment media’s obsession for the better part of a month. Once again this guy is driving the narrative, as the media incapable of critical thought does his bidding.
You really have to give Lil Nas X some credit. This dude is the ultimate troll, working the captured media, working the algorithms, and playing popular culture trends perfectly to his benefit. His music is nothing more than meme, but he’s exploited the medium to enrich himself to the tune of millions of dollars.
Maybe BET voters finally became attune to the realities of Lil Nas X’s grift and voted for actual artists contributing something more meaningful to Black music. BET still may have its own problems, and country music most certainly isn’t a vessel of virtue either. But Lil Nas X’s criticism, or the criticism coming from the media on his behalf is peak lunacy. Lil Nas X is exploiting the irrational moment we’re living for financial enrichment and attention, and nobody will question him because they don’t want to be labeled homophobic. He’s a brilliant artist, unquestionably. A brilliant con artist.
June 26, 2022 @ 10:42 am
I still think Elon Musk is the top troll but otherwise I agree. I don’t know if his music is just a meme either since I’ve only heard the most popular songs. It probably has value to his fans but that doesn’t mean you deserve awards every year you put something out. I hope he’s just playing everyone and doesn’t actually believe every lack of recognition is a personal slight based on his sexuality. Sometimes, sure. People are jerks. But not everyone, not always and usually not the people who’ve been cool with you before.
But anyway if LNX got a CMA for “Old Town Road” Trent Reznor should have one too. It was his damn banjo sample that Billy Ray cited as making the song country. Idk if he actually played it himself but his bio claims 25 instruments, many stringed, so probably.
June 26, 2022 @ 11:28 am
Trent Reznor also did receive a CMA for “Old Town Road.” I don’t want to completely cast off his music, but most certainly the attention he receives is based around shock, grievance, identity, and signaling, which certainly makes his m more meme than musician. The reason some give “Old Town Road” a pass is because they’re kids loved it. The reason kids loved it was because it’s indolent.
June 26, 2022 @ 12:21 pm
I didn’t realize that, thanks. I’m sure a CMA was as much a shock to the Nine Inch Nails guy as having his name on a #1 pop hit. I didn’t think the special category would have mentioned the…songwriter, featured instrumentalist maybe? I’m not sure how awards shows categorize artists that are sampled rather than intentionally being part of a song.
Unfortunately I think you’re right about LNX himself. I mean he won in 2020 for “Old Town Road”, a song with gimmicky production that got him an incredible amount of attention and catapulted him to national fame while inspiring a thousand idiotic essays about how country music has to change from people who’d never thought about the genre before.
He won in 2021 for “Montero”, a song about his personal experiences with his sexuality, that had an accompanying video designed to both mock and inflame the ire of people who have a religious problem with his orientation. A move that, once again, got him a huge amount of national attention.
This year he may have released some music but certainly nothing that caused such a furor that the conversation reached my ears. I knew of and heard the first two songs despite not being a fan of his or listening much to the genre. Seems like maybe his music can’t stand on it’s own against the competition without a viral marketing scheme. Now he’s found one and if next year he wins a BET Award for “F*** BET” that will be hilarious and disheartening at the same time.
Sure people will laugh, me included, but artists essentially extorting awards doesn’t seem like a good precedent.
June 27, 2022 @ 6:16 am
Of course she won’t let me post this. But your way off on Trent Reznor. He’s an incredib talented musician. I’ve never seen him do any signaling or try to make it on controversial issues.Maybe you were thinking about Marilyn Manson.
June 27, 2022 @ 6:49 am
Not seeing anyone here criticizing Trent Reznor.
June 28, 2022 @ 11:21 am
Trigger, I think they misread your second sentence and thought “I don’t want to completely cast off his music, but most certainly the attention he receives is based around shock, grievance, identity, and signaling, which certainly makes his m more meme than musician” was directed toward Reznor. You were writing about LNX in the second sentence.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:09 am
That would have been true of the music would be without merit. However as far as poppy hiphop goes he is pretty much without peers right now. I do see how he utilizes social media to a great extent to get some attention but to frame this issue between him and BET as them having song his praises in the past and now they just didn’t is naive at best and disingenuous at worst.
They praised him and gave him awards when he was still in the closet and made an uncomfortable situation about him performing in their show after him coming out. Followed by zero nominations for one of the strongest performing and reviewed ‘black albums’ and singles in recent history.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:23 am
“They praised him and gave him awards when he was still in the closet…”
Lil Nas X came out on June 30th, 2019. BET has honored him numerous times since then. Also, even before he came out, everybody knew. It was part of the narrative when I was reporting on “Old Town Road” in 2018.
“…and made an uncomfortable situation about him performing in their show after him coming out.”
I’m sorry to hear he was made to feel “uncomfortable.” We’re all are made to feel uncomfortable multiple times every day. Just because someone is a gay black man doesn’t mean they should never be meant to feel uncomfortable at any turn. Don’t you think people felt uncomfortable when he was fucking Satan in a video weeks after releasing a children’s book? That was the whole point. Lil Nas X wanted people to feel uncomfortable. He wanted to offend them. But he’s so weak of spirit, if they ask him if he’s an actual satanist, he’s offended? I’m sorry, but fuck off.
Lil Nas X is no victim. He is a multi-millon dollar beneficiary of the identitarian obsession of popular culture. There are THOUSANDS of artists out there that would kill for 10% of the opportunities Lil Nas X has been bestowed from the music industry, BET included.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:32 am
I stand corrected on the coming out!
The reply you gave about the “uncomfortable” part though is a strawman.
“beneficiary of the identitarian obsession” is pure homophobia.
June 26, 2022 @ 10:57 am
Yuck. Yuck all around.
June 26, 2022 @ 12:52 pm
Ridiculous, and also predictable. It’s what he does. Question – where is this ‘woke’ media you write about defending him and his trolling accusations? I did a little looking online- the only difference in your article and what I’ve seen is your editorializing- I don’t see media defending his crazy position.
June 26, 2022 @ 1:40 pm
Oh, I’ve seen all kinds of articles defending his position. I won’t list them all, but here’s a couple I bookmarked.
NBC News: Lil Nas says BET snub is about a larger problem: LGBTQ acceptance
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/lil-nas-says-bet-snub-larger-problem-lgbtq-acceptance-rcna32153
NPR: When Lil Nas X calls out BET, it means something
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107514955/lil-nas-x-bet-awards-late-to-da-party-new-single?curator=MediaREDEF
The NPR article does a pretty good job trying to tell both sides of the story, but ultimately sides with Lil Nas X.
Most of the news articles generally steer clear of editorializing, which they’re supposed to do. But most or all of the editorials on the matter have taken the side of Lil Nas X.
June 26, 2022 @ 1:43 pm
I don’t know why I’m commenting but I just have to say it seems like we can’t win anymore. No matter what side of the spectrum you’re on, someone will be offended and before 2020 that was ok. I miss the days when people had a backbone and could confidently speak their mind.
June 27, 2022 @ 5:44 am
Sorry bud. Opinions are are formed determined by politicians, who pass these on to the their respective media outlet, and then dispense them to the public. These opinions are then passed through social media where friends share amongst their other friends who believe exactly what they do. There are only two opinions allowed, and you must choose one of the two or risk being labeled a radical outcast. There is no grey area.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:38 am
nonsense
June 27, 2022 @ 9:07 am
Is it? Today’s society, especially on social media, is based on group think. Everyone posting the exact same thing as others in their group and congratulating each other, or spewing hate for anyone who thinks differently. You are one side or the other with no tolerance for in between.
June 27, 2022 @ 9:56 am
Ain’t none of my opinions based on anything but the things I’ve spent my life learning about. Sure, I commiserate with like-minded people on social media. I have spent time seeking and connecting with people who hold similar opinions. But my opinions are my own. So, speak for yo self.
June 28, 2022 @ 11:29 am
Scott nailed it! Groupthink is the issue. I don’t care what issue we are talking about or what “side” your on. Its been proven that people seek out confirmation for their POV, instead of seeking out information from multiple points of view. You’ll see many people kicked out of social media groups for bringing up points that go against the narrative. Instead of hearing different viewpoints they want to hear what they want to hear. Its just the reality of the internet. Groupthink was less of a factor prior to the boom of the internet.
July 9, 2022 @ 10:03 pm
Ah yes. The olden days where the Dixie Chicks got dead threats and got their CD demolished because they spoke their minds. Face it. Americans have always been sensitive. It’s just that the minority now can weaponize it too.
June 26, 2022 @ 2:10 pm
Today’s progressive is tomorrow’s dinosaur.
They always eat their own. A lesson first learned during the French Revolution. Where the hero of yesterday was beheaded two days later.
June 26, 2022 @ 5:43 pm
How does it go again? Oh yeah…play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
June 26, 2022 @ 6:10 pm
I’m today’s, yesterday’s, and all the days before that’s dinosaur? Do you know what that makes me tomorrow?
Always right.
June 26, 2022 @ 7:07 pm
T-Rex, Sr.?
June 26, 2022 @ 2:32 pm
It’s all satanic
June 26, 2022 @ 2:59 pm
2 things,
1. There a difference between BET awards and BET HIP-HOP awards. The hip-hop awards is exclusively hip-hop and that’s where he’s won 2. He has only received 1 nomination from the major (and more recognized) one.
2. The black community does have a problem embracing LGBTQ (as much as they tell you they don’t, they do and this is a reflection). As popular as “Pose” was (a series on FX), it never received a nomination from BET or NAACP.
My only issue with this whole situation is, lil Nas x calling BET out. This is one of those situations where he should have said nothing and eventually his fans would call the organization out. Him calling them out makes it seem as though that’s all he’s about: awards.
June 26, 2022 @ 3:34 pm
Definitely tried to distinguish that there are two separate BET awards, but it’s worth underscoring.
The black community very well may have a problem embracing LGBT artists, but I don’t think you can say that same thing about the BET Awards. They did embrace him, on a number of occasions.
Criticizing the BET Awards for not nominating you is one thing. That’s what Lil Nas X did initially, then deleted it. Recording a releasing a diss track saying “Fuck BET,” trying to discredit them entirely, urinating on your previous award, and turning your rabid fan base on them is another thing.
Look, I’m a country guy. Generally speaking, I don’t have a dog in this race, and it’s not really my position to tell anyone in the Back community what they should be doing. But the BET Awards were set up to support Black creators, and that’s what they do. I guarantee they have problems, because all awards have problems. But they’re doing what they can to support the Black creative community. Trying to tear that all down just because you didn’t get a nominations seems excessive, and hurtful to that community in ways that could adversely affect other artists who may need the BET awards in the future for deserved attention. Lil Nas X has got his, so he has no problem burning bridges behind him. He may have a point, but this is not the way to get it across. They should all be working to support Black music, not fighting each other.
June 26, 2022 @ 3:50 pm
His “music” sucks. Why does he deserve an award just because of his sexuality? Skin color, hair color, sexuality, political takes, dietary preferences etc are all reasons for getting awards now ahead of musical talent and quality. Sad times. Anything for a headline.
June 26, 2022 @ 5:11 pm
An identity peddler gets played by an identity hustler.
June 26, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
Off topic, Trigger, so feel free to delete, but I am wondering if you will write anything about the new Elvis film. If my math is right this is the first time in over a decade when the man and hopefully the artist, (haven’t seen the movie yet) will receive a fresh evaluation from a new Generation (are we up to Double Z now?)
To borrow from a favorite blogger, like or dislike his music, Elvis Presley was “much more than meme”, so I am curious if we will receive a Kate Bush/Fleetwood Mac look again from those under (deep breath . . . ) forty.
June 26, 2022 @ 5:47 pm
The new Elvis movie is on my radar, and I will try to cover it if possible. Been traveling a lot over the past couple of weeks, so haven’t really had time for movies and such. But I hope to find that time soon. Thanks for the interest.
June 26, 2022 @ 6:26 pm
Recover from your illness yet?
June 26, 2022 @ 11:07 pm
Feeling better, yes. But won’t get over missing the Jackalope Jamboree and having my summer tour plans dashed anytime soon. Thanks for asking.
June 27, 2022 @ 4:55 am
Is it time we discuss a plan for the Continuity of Saving Country Music in the event you weren’t able to continue leading us here? I mean, I’m just sayin n all
June 27, 2022 @ 7:36 am
Dale,
That comment just hit really wrong this morning.
REALLY, really, wrong.
In fact, it is pure horseshit
June 27, 2022 @ 7:53 am
Good to hear
June 27, 2022 @ 8:21 am
What illness? Just because you’re wrong 87% of the time doesn’t mean I don’t care about your well-being.
June 26, 2022 @ 6:20 pm
I’ve seen it twice. Love it. I have nitpicks, certainly. Some of the directorial choices were questionable, some of the timeline and chronology are jumbled, important things are skipped over, but this movie is for Elvis lovers. I got chills multiple times watching it both times. Austin Butler is amazing in his body mimicry of Elvis. I highly recommend it.
June 27, 2022 @ 4:33 am
The big choice I thought was really weird was the inclusion of two rap remix songs. I like my time period movies to be as authentic as possible and doing something like that really takes me out of the immersion for a minute. Other than that, my gal and I are both huge Elvis fans and I really dug the movie.
June 26, 2022 @ 7:15 pm
I’m investing heavily in companies that make lamp posts.
June 27, 2022 @ 2:35 am
What goes around, comes around. Especially if you’re a crybaby and cloutchaser. Lil Nas X is like one of those people from American Idol, who’s blissfully unaware of their utter lack of talent and mistake their memedom for an actual career.
June 27, 2022 @ 4:23 am
He’s no longer a ‘fad’. Now that his music has to stand on it’s on merits, it doesn’t. Five years from now, nobody will remember him and the guy will be the answer to a triva question.
June 27, 2022 @ 5:03 am
yeah ranking by meritocracy is racist.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:40 am
You are mistaking your opinion with merit.
June 27, 2022 @ 5:30 am
Welcome to the victim generation where everyone is offended, no one is responsible for themselves, and achievement is based on identity instead of actually achieving. Maybe he needs to check another identity box to regain attention.
June 27, 2022 @ 6:06 am
“what does this have to do with country music?” asks trigger, knowing full well he is about to try to throw some straws into the mix for which to grasp. i don’t like lil nas x, but this is just another piece about how you don’t like a person.
June 28, 2022 @ 11:35 am
That’s a negative, I believe you are mistaken. Read the article and do a little search on the history of Little Nas X. Its a 100% related to the country music industry. I imagine a lot of people are too young to remember Billy Ray Cyrus but I do. Old Town Road was a cross genre song.
June 28, 2022 @ 1:01 pm
he released that song three years ago and hasn’t done anything even remotely country since. we’re all aware of who billy ray cyrus is. this is a country music website. you think you’re the only one?! lol. get off.
June 28, 2022 @ 2:07 pm
I think context matters don’t you? Your trying to say this has nothing to do with country music and now you admit you know it does but your still trying to minimize it. It appears I am missing your angle. Sounds to me like another comment from you about how you don’t like a person aka “trigger” in this case. lol
June 27, 2022 @ 6:24 am
Another example in a long line of younger artists who feel they’re entitled to certain things and when they don’t get their way, they whine (this goes for straight white artists too). You aren’t going to be nominated every year for the rest of your life no matter how good you think you are. Unfortunately it’s just a reflection of the direction our society has taken in the last 10 years.
June 27, 2022 @ 7:07 am
The Colin Kaepernick of the music world, or at least one of them.
June 27, 2022 @ 8:16 am
Ugh. Is it ok to puke on the internet because nobody will see you or smell it?
June 27, 2022 @ 3:45 pm
Hahaha please explain
June 27, 2022 @ 8:12 am
Even though his music isn’t really my thing, I love that guy. Come for him, and you have to come through me first and I’m old and disabled but wield a mean walker,
The discrimination he’s talking about has to do with him being gay and flamboyant. I don’t know how many black people y’all know, but homophobia has always been more prevalent in the black community, which is why we saw the “down low.” No culture is perfect. Certainly, we white people don’t have a lot to brag about.
June 27, 2022 @ 9:44 am
He exploited a loophole with the genre labeling to jumpstart his music career. I can’t fault him for trying because it worked, but his music isn’t country and he’s shown zero interest in making real country music. His genre mislabeling stunt doesn’t entitle him to one ounce of respect from the country music gatekeepers. (whoever the heck that encompasses)
His being gay doesn’t entitle him to a pass. an ‘Ass Pass’ if you will
June 27, 2022 @ 3:45 pm
Just because it isn’t country does not give you or anybody else the right to go so over the top. What do country music gatekeepers have to do with anything?
June 27, 2022 @ 9:44 am
Love how you couldn’t criticize a section of the black community without feeling the need to throw in some white guilt. It is okay to critique.
(It is interesting though how the media does gloss over the black community and its supposed lack of acceptance of the LGBT community. Of course, it has to do with them not wanting to be labeled racist.)
You speak for yourself. The white community has plenty of accomplishments to brag about. Just read look at history.
June 27, 2022 @ 3:35 pm
This white supremacist needs to be booted. What an a$$hole. Yeah, buddy, it’s all about the accomplishments of white people.
@Trigger I’m serious. This should not be tolerated
June 27, 2022 @ 5:18 pm
Racism and white supremacy is not tolerated. I don’t see how saying, “The white community has plenty of accomplishments to brag about.” is inherently white supremacist. Of course white community has accomplished great things, just like Black and Brown communities have as well. The white community has also done some terrible things as you point out. If you see something you feel is wrong or misleading, challenge it, like you did. Erasing and banning people takes away an opportunity for learning and mutual understanding, and is only used as a last resort.
June 27, 2022 @ 7:52 pm
Yeah? Well you don’t see how self-indulgent your rant was either. This kind of thing mars what would otherwise be a fine legacy. As someone else said, this was just an excuse for you to go on about you not liking someone.
Believe me. Attacking someone for defending a black artist who was being attacked and then focusing on white people’s accomplishments is racist as F. And you invited it. You set the tone. You are the petri dish in which it festers. Just stop it or you’re proving the nay sayers right,
June 27, 2022 @ 9:38 pm
Rebecca,
I appreciate the feedback.
This was not a rant. Lil Nas X made some misleading statements at the least about the reception he’s received from the BET Awards, and for the lack of receiving any nominations this year, released a diss track anchored by “Fuck BET,” and then urinated on one of his previous awards. That is a rant. I can understand his frustration at not being nominated, but maybe take a cue from Kacey Musgraves and Brandi Carlile when they got genres switched on them at the Grammy Awards. Make a statement and state your case. But understand these awards are there to support black creatives, and the accusations Lil Nas X made can be devastating to an organization like that in 2022.
June 28, 2022 @ 1:20 pm
Trig,
Serious question: Why do you appreciate “feedback” from a communist boomer who would happily shut your website down for noncompliance?
June 28, 2022 @ 2:40 pm
Because I feel like criticism is healthy, and thoughts are there to be challenged. I’m glad Rebecca and others are piping up about their concerns about this article. I don’t want to live in an echo chamber.
June 28, 2022 @ 2:00 pm
Good grief.
If you are going to troll, at least be creative. This SJW stuff is just dull.
I am not going to apologize for deeds that I didn’t do and I am not going to pretend that the white race is inherently evil. But since I don’t worship the doctrine of white guilt, I must be booted. You are nothing but O’Brien’s henchwoman. For being tolerant and open minded, you sure can’t handle a different opinion.
You are nothing but the proverbial useful idiot that will be thrown away after the ruling party achieved its goals. I pity you.
June 28, 2022 @ 2:30 pm
She isn’t trolling. She would have you fired from your job if she could. She’s dead serious. I wish she were trolling.
June 27, 2022 @ 3:48 pm
Yeah. We murdered the natives who lived here. Enslaved black people for 400 years. We have Stalin and Hitler to brag about too.
June 28, 2022 @ 3:59 am
*Noble_Savage_Myth has entered the chat
June 28, 2022 @ 4:04 am
meanwhile all native people got along for thousands of years and totally didnt murder each other for land and resources. (sarcasm) Also black tribes in Africa didnt enslave weaker tribes and sell them into slavery to other people of color (sarcasm) which accounted for 70% of the slave trade at the same time as white people who engaged in the slave trade
June 28, 2022 @ 7:52 am
This is the strategy of all bad ‘social justice’ narratives. Extreme reductionism and cherry picking.
I’m not sure exactly what some of my relatives have to do with Hitler and Stalin, their families having been kicked out of both Germany and Russia for their religious convictions.
The line between good and evil crosses through every human heart. We have to start with that premise, or we’ll end up with lies and nihilism.
June 28, 2022 @ 11:40 am
Rebecca, please read Empire of the Summer Moon. I think it would open your eyes, I know it did mine. That being said, from my POV there wasn’t many “good” people. It was a brutal time all around, not a lot of peaceful open minded folks on any side.
June 27, 2022 @ 12:52 pm
This is just an excuse for Trigger to talk about identity politics, which for reasons unknown pokes his bear. As for Nas X, this is his thing. No different than a laundry list of other artists throughout history, from Shakespeare to Sex Pistols to NWA, using the cultural hot topic to advance their careers. The key is to play both sides to get the most attention. You get the usual outrage with Satan, then you flip it around and be outraged that someone thinks you’re a Satanist, then complain that you’re being ignored for being gay, then complain that everyone is focused on you because you’re gay. It’s how the game has always been played. Identity, as in allowing someone whoever they happen to be to be themselves is an entirely different thing. It’s a shame you can’t see the difference, because your outrage at his boring celebrity gamesmanship is obviously being read by some people here as damning the current societal focus on the human right to be who you are without hate. Is it preachy and overbearing at times? Yes, welcome to the Zeitgeist. But dude it’s about not hating people for being different than you, and about lifting groups that have been traditionally, systemically, kept down. That’s all good stuff. Everyone wins. Why write an essay like this? Who wins when you do that?
June 27, 2022 @ 9:43 pm
So you begin by admitting all of this behavior from Lil Nas X is “boring celebrity gamesmanship” of manipulating the public, and then you ask, “Why write an essay like this? Who wins when you do that?” Because it’s the moral obligation of journalists to bust through the marketing of artists/labels/managers, and present the truth to the public. The real question is, who is losing? This is not a victimless crime. The accusations Lil Nas X made have and will be damaging to BET. That is why they deserve scrutiny.
June 28, 2022 @ 2:12 am
Trigger, wtf does Lil Nas X or the BET Awards have to do with Country Music? Nothing. BET does not need you to save or protect them. They do not need a great white hope to stick their nose in their business. All I see here are rationalizations and justifications. This was a rant. It was ugly and pointless. And more ugly came from the comments. This whole embarrassing mess, and it is an embarrassment, should be taken down.
June 28, 2022 @ 9:35 am
Kind of missed the whole Billy Ray Old-town Road thing there did ya? That was supposedly country music.
June 28, 2022 @ 10:36 am
From the article:
“What does all of this have to do with country music? Because this is a similar grift that was perpetrated in 2018 when Billboard decided to remove “Old Town Road” from their country charts because he was found to have purposely manipulated the system, and for some reason, the entirety of country music was accused of being racist for it. In fact, the one entity that actually had anything to do with it—Billboard—was virtually spared from any of the criticism or discussion surrounding the matter. It was all foisted upon country music in general.”
If you want to go more in-depth into the whole Lil Nas X grift of country, you can read this:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/lil-nas-x-the-media-echo-chamber-shane-morriss-vile-past/
…including how Pitchfork, Salon, NPR, and later Bitter Southerner posted false information about Saving Country Music, attempting to take a piece I wrote AFTER “Old Town Road” was removed from the country charts, and claim it was the reason it was removed.
This situation is really simple: Lil Nas X is claiming BET is excluding him because he is gay. BET has given Lil Nas X five nominations, and two wins since he’s been out, including for content that has strong gay content. At the least, Lil Nas X’s accusations deserve scrutiny. I’m not trying to destroy his career. I’m just trying to offer context.
June 28, 2022 @ 7:03 am
SCM is an awesome blog. I’ve been reading it for years because it’s important to the genre. But you knew how this would be read. You’re too smart to not know that. I’m just asking you to take more care. These are physically dangerous times for a lot of people. Please err on the side of caution, for everyone’s sake. I’ll leave it at that.
June 28, 2022 @ 9:22 am
As far as pieces like this being dangerous or harmful in some way, I think it’s important to point out the harm caused by unfair, disingenuous, cynical, self serving, dumb, etc…attacks, for lack of a better word, against country music in the past decade (ie Lil Nas X, and the whole Beyoncé thing before that).
I’m a gay, Clinton-loving, east coast “elitist” (kinda, sorta?) and boy does being a country music fanatic make clear how many people, including plenty of people I know, would rather do things like tar and feather country music as racist over billboard charts and Grammy nominations than actually do anything helpful/constructive about racism.
June 27, 2022 @ 2:23 pm
“You really have to give Lil Nas X some credit. This dude is the ultimate troll, working the captured media, working the algorithms, and playing popular culture trends perfectly to his benefit.”
I dunno, Trig. He just sounds like an entitled prick to me.
June 28, 2022 @ 4:11 am
Agreed. Being “edgy” has been played out, but being a successful troll can be entertaining.
June 28, 2022 @ 3:57 pm
It’s time to start taking away awards altogether. Just like removing valedictorians in high schools, if these pampered babies can’t accept that sometimes you don’t win then just give everyone their participation trophy. Good job millennials!
July 2, 2022 @ 1:22 pm
These artists need to understand that their career doesn’t hinge on winning awards.
July 8, 2022 @ 10:12 pm
I can’t think of a more appropriate narrative for 2022, than for a white country music blogger to go after a black queer artist in defense of BET because he’s so damn shook by that black artist encroaching on his country music and, huff huff, I’m not a racist, nor is country music, huff. We’re all neutral, huff huff.
What a goddamn pathetic blog post lol.
August 15, 2022 @ 9:11 am
This is so disappointing. I enjoy your work on country music, I do not enjoy self-righteous rants about culture war crap. And I definitely don’t enjoy seeing anybody defending talk about a monolithic “white community,” something that only exists in the minds of white supremacists who believe there is something meaningfully connective about skin color. I just hope you’re aware what a tremendous amount of damage you can do to your own reputation with drivel like this. This isn’t TMZ.
August 15, 2022 @ 2:17 pm
I apologize, but I don’t see the gossip angle to this that would make it worthy of TMZ. I also did not use the phrase “white community” anywhere in here, so I’m not sure why it’s in quotes. Lil Nas X mischaracterized how much attention BET had given him over the years, and was actively looking to erode integrity in an institution that highlights Black creators. I agree that going against the pop culture narrative can do a “tremendous amount of damage” to a journalist’s reputation these days since in certain instances, you’re supposed to believe lies to signal your virtue when it comes to certain causes. But sometimes it’s also a journalist’s job to present the facts and share unpopular opinions. I don’t run a popularity contest. I also stand by the importance of this issue, and publishing this article. I don’t stand behind some of the comments, but those are the opinions of others, not mine.