Rapper Lil Nas the Christian community on his latest single “J Christ”.
Even before the song was released, Christian rappers denounced the new single as a mockery of Jesus Christ and religion. In response to the backlash, the rapper posted a video on Instagram, providing an explanation and apology to those offended by his new song, released Friday.
The music video and accompanying promotion featured religious imagery, including a depiction of the rapper as Jesus Christ on the cross, which immediately sparked criticism from many Christians who interpreted it as a “mockery” and “disrespect” to Christianity.
“I know I really messed up this time. I can act undisturbed all I want, but it definitely took a toll on me mentally,” Lil Nas X said on Instagram. video. “I’m not some evil demon trying to destroy everyone’s values and stuff like that. That’s not me.”
He explained that he knew there would be “upset people”, as religion is “a very sensitive subject for a lot of people”, but admitted that he “didn’t want to make fun, it wasn’t not like a f– – you to you people…that was literally me saying I’m back like Jesus.”
In his apology, Lil Nas He specifically mentioned a scene in the music video where he fights Satan, as proof that he wasn’t trying to offend Christians.
“Also, with the (music) video, there is no disrespect,” he said. “I thought I was clearly not on the devil’s side in that video, it was… I don’t know… there was an understanding there that I wasn’t the type to try to discredit Christianity. “
As part of his promotion for the song’s release last week, he shared a TikTok video that showed him downing “juice and crackers” used in Christian communion. The rapper also joked that he was releasing new gospel music independently and posted a fake acceptance letter from Christian College Liberty University for biblical studies.
“I thought this video was going to be the video to lighten the mood… I didn’t understand the reality of what it is… but I apologize, I will say I’m sorry for that , it was exaggerated,” he said. .
The rapper clarified that his apology video was not an attempt to get on everyone’s “good side”, but to clear his head about the decisions he made.
Christian rapper Bryson Gray denounced the images before the song’s release and called on other Christians to do the same.
“My opinion on this is that I believe Lil Nas X is potentially a reprobate as described in Romans 1,” he said. Fox News Digital. “I think he’s making fun of Christianity. He’s making fun of Christ. That’s why he uses Christian imagery to do it. He does it in order to make fun of us because that’s how ‘He gets his clicks. I don’t care if he gets the clicks on the reaction from Christians. I want to see more Christians react,’
LIL NAS X SPARS WITH THE CRITICS, GOV. KRISTI NOEM ON NEW SONG AND SATAN THEMED SNEAKERS
Lil Nas associated with demonic images in the past. In 2021, he collaborated on Satan-themed sneakers featuring a pentagram and an inverted cross that reportedly contained 60 CCs of red ink mixed with a drop of human blood in the sole of the shoe. Only 666 pairs were available.
Additionally, in the music video for his 2021 song “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” the rapper was dressed provocatively while pole dancing and giving Satan a lap dance in Hell.
“I know, given my history… anything I do related to religion can be seen as mockery, that just wasn’t the case,” he said.
Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
