Twitter Tears Boyce Watkins Apart After Statement About Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X released his new song, “Industry Baby” featuring Jack Harlow on July 23rd after giving fans a sneak peek with a prelude on July 19th. The video was based on the concept of Lil Nas X getting sentenced to five years in Montero State Prison after losing a court battle against Nike for his infamous Satan sneakers, which contained human blood in each pair. Although the prelude for the music video shows that he is being tried in a court of law for the shoes, Lil Nas X is quickly sentenced when the prosecutor inquires about his sexual orientation.
When asked if he is gay, he answers with a resounding “yes” and is quickly whisked away by the guards. It is evident that his queerness is seen as a crime to be punished for.
In spite of this, he utilizes this same queer energy to change the environment that he is incarcerated in. Instead of being ashamed for who he is and rotting away in prison, Lil Nas X chooses to create a gay utopia, one in which hypermasculinity doesn’t take center stage. He shows gay men in prison uniting and being in harmony with each other, rather than living in a state of fear and depravity. The inmates then come together to take over the prison and escape with their dignity intact.
Though many view Lil Nas X as a revolutionary artist who is changing the narrative of what it means to be Black, male, and queer, others have made him out to be a sexual deviant who has a desire to ruin the Black community and make everyone gay. One such person who believes this narrative is the author and social commentator, Dr. Boyce Watkins. Watkins is not only known for his books about finances and money management in the Black community but also his views on Black America as a whole.
On July 25th, Watkins took to Twitter to criticize Lil Nas X, claiming that he wasn’t fighting for gay rights, but that he was encouraging the type of “sexual irresponsibility” that causes men to die from the AIDS virus. He even went as far as to say that, “Being gay is one thing, but being a super spreader is another.”
In response, Twitter quickly responded to Watkins, calling him out on his statement, claiming that it was homophobia and ignorance masked in fake concern. Many pointed out the double standards that people have for queer artists versus straight artists, including Lil Nas X himself.
y’all be silent as hell when niggas dedicate their entire music catalogue to rapping about sleeping with multiple women. but when i do anything remotely sexual i’m “being sexually irresponsible” & “causing more men to die from aids” y’all hate gay ppl and don’t hide it. https://t.co/ZiwbYcIH5l
— MONTERO 🦋 (@LilNasX) July 25, 2021
only when LGBTQ artists express sexuality it is seen as distasteful and gross. but when straight artists do it it’s seen as liberating and embracing sexuality. hmm 🧐 https://t.co/tUGc2k9II3
— squip (@squipsquilch) July 25, 2021
People also criticized Watkins for having concerns about being a “super spreader” when he said that he would not be getting the COVID-19 vaccine because he wanted to strengthen his immune system.
…and if anyone knows anything about being a "super spreader"… https://t.co/4nV0HJnimZ pic.twitter.com/2kXILNU7tA
— Emasculation Proclamation (@angryblkhoemo) July 25, 2021