2019 has been Lil Nas X’s year. The rapper shot to viral fame in March with his now record-breaking track “Old Town Road”, before dropping endless remixes, and starring on the cover of Dazed. Now, instead of focusing on his astronomical achievements, a new interview sees the musician pretty aggressively questioned about why he came out online.

Filmed for HBO’s talk show The Shop: Uninterrupted, the video shows series writer Paul Rivera ask Lil Nas X: “With all that early success, you felt it was important to make an announcement?” Kevin Hart – who famously said he’s afraid of his son growing up gay – quickly chimes in with, “He said he was gay, so what?” backed up by other voices off-camera who question: “Who cares?”

Rivera ploughs on with his accusatory questioning, seemingly dismissing the existence of homophobia as he tells the group: “It’s not about who cares – that’s actually my question.” 

Maintaining his composure, Lil Nas X replies: “It’s not like I was being forced, it’s just that growing up (I’m meant to) hate this shit.” When Hart questions what he’s referring to, Lil Nas continues: “Homosexuality, gay people. Come on now, if you’re really from the hood, you know.” 

“For me – the ‘cool dude with the song’ – on top of everything to say this,” the rapper continues. “Any other time I’m doing this for attention in my eyes, but if you’re doing this while you’re at the top, you know it’s for real, and it’s showing that it doesn’t really matter.”

Lil Nas revealed his sexuality on Twitter in July, writing: “Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. But before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure.” The tweet also included a rainbow emoji.

The rapper’s coming out has been widely celebrated by fans and the media, with his GQ Hype cover shot at London Pride, so it’s disappointing to see a group of probably straight men awkwardly quiz him about why he even came out in the first place. 

Watch the video below.