All eyes were on Lil Nas X over the weekend as the “Old Town Road” breakout star faced an onslaught of criticism for his satanic-themed “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video and controversial “Satan Shoes.”
Not only did conservative commentator Candace Owens, Pastor Mark Burns and Grammy Award-winning Christian singer Kaya Jones come for Lil Nas X, but Joyner Lucas and retired NBA star Nick Young also had a few things to say about the 21-year-old artist’s latest endeavors.
“I think the biggest problem for me is the fact he dont understand ‘old town road’ is every kids anthem,” Joyner tweeted on Sunday afternoon (March 28). “Children love him for that record. They tuned in and subscribed to his channels. So with no disclaimer he just dropped some left field ish & all our kids seen it. Smh.”
Par for the course, the adept Twitter personality fired back and pointed out there were potentially offensive themes in “Old Town Road,” too.
AD LOADING...
“i literally sing about lean & adultery in old town road,” Lil Nas X wrote. “u decided to let your child listen. blame yourself.”
As for Young, he announced via Twitter there would be a ban on Lil Nas X in the Young household and was contemplating a Nike boycott — even though the sneaker giant had nothing to do with the creation of Lil Nas X’s “Satan Shoes.”
“My kids will never play Old Town road again,” he tweeted. “I’m still debating about wearing @Nike after this come nike a drop of blood for real.”
Despite Young’s aversion to the shoe, he’s now singing a different tune — but it’s not exactly “Old Town Road.” On Sunday afternoon, he blamed an internet savvy prankster for the tweet and apologized for the criticism.
AD LOADING...
“I dnt want know SMOKE!” he wrote. “imma say it first I AM SORRY @LilNasX. I HOPE y’all believe in that kinda thing forgiveness … these Hackers keep getting me they need to stop.” He added on Monday morning (March 29), “Look y’all can beef with the devil all y’all want … I was hacked in the Name of Jesus.”
Lil Nas X and the clothing brand MSCHF customized 666 pairs of Nike Air Max ’97s for the collaboration, adding details such as a pentagram pendant hanging from the zipper, one drop of human blood in the sole and “Luke 10:18” written on the side, a Bible verse about Satan’s fall from heaven. In a statement to fact-checking website Snopes, Nike denied any involvement, writing, “Nike did not release nor design these shoes.”
Lil Nas X's Human Blood 'Satan Shoes' Have Retired NBA Star Nick Young Contemplating Nike Boycott
Meanwhile, the “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video drew the ire of Twitter for its sexually-explicit content and drug references. At one point in the visual, Lil Nas X grinds on top of Satan’s lap wearing nothing but boy shorts and black thigh-high leather boots.
AD LOADING...
The Grammy Award-winning rapper appeared to offer an apology for the “Satan Shoes,” on Twitter, but the post turned out to be nothing more than further promo for the video.
Check it out below.
