By: Andrea Yan
There is a deeper meaning to Lil Nas X’s new song: “Late to Da Party.” The first and last lines in the song include the lyrics “f*** BET.” BET is short for Black Entertainment Television.
The feud between Lil Nas X and the company started when he was not nominated for a BET Award. The same day nominations were announced, he sent a tweet (since then deleted): “thank you bet awards. an outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence!”
Nas X believes his queerness had something to do with the lack of a nomination, although he has been nominated for two BET awards in the past, has performed at the ceremony twice, won two BET Hip Hop awards, and received two nominations at last year’s ceremony.
Even though it seems as if the decisions on nominations are made fairly for BET awards, his claims about homophobia are not untrue. Celebrities, such as rapper Boosie Badazz, seem to be obsessed with being mean to Lil Nas X. Boosie Badazz has tweeted encouraging Lil Nas X to commit suicide because “you would do this world a huge favor, nobody want u here.” Nas X’s openness about his queerness has also generated backlash from other queer people who accuse him of being too “in your face” about his sexuality.
This brings up the question: how can we prevent biases among awards voting groups? Drake has protested the Recording Academy and the Grammys on the basis that they are dismissive of Black artists. He withdrew his two nominations for his album, Certified Lover Boy. In a 2017 interview, he said that “I’m apparently a rapper, even though ‘Hotline Bling’ is not a rap song. The only category they can manage to fit me in is in a rap category, maybe because I’ve rapped in the past or because I’m Black.” There’s no way anyone can prevent biases among awards voting groups; we just have to work towards seeing all people, no matter their sex, race, or sexuality, as equal people who all deserve an opportunity for success.
To Lil Nas X, the BET Awards are not as important as the Grammys, Oscars, or the Golden Globes. However, to him, the lack of nomination is being rejected by his Black peers. Even though awards shows are subjective, and they serve to boost self-image, and when you have as much fame and success as Lil Nas X has, you don’t need anybody to boost self-image. However, when you’re Black and queer, recognition (or lack of it) is that much more important.
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