In March, Lil Nas X released his much-teased banger “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”, alongside a video that saw him lap dance for the devil after sliding down a stripper pole into hell. Unsurprisingly, the video sparked outrage among both Christians and parents – the latter of whom mistakenly thought Lil Nas made music for children. This rage was further exacerbated when the rapper dropped a shoe made from human blood.
Now, Lil Nas has appeared on the late-night talk show Desus & Mero to discuss the controversy. “I really just wanted to corrupt the youth… no I’m kidding,” he laughs when asked about the track’s visuals.
“What’s the real reason that everyone’s still angry,” he continues, “what’s the actual reason? Even when I was planning the video, I was like, ‘Oh this is definitely gonna hit Fox News’. I definitely didn’t expect the outrage as much as it was at all, especially governors tweeting me.”
Discussing his pole dancing journey, Lil Nas adds: “It took two weeks (to learn how to twerk on the pole), and it hurt so much. Even on the set of the video, the back of my legs were bleeding. When I had to finish (filming), I was like, ‘The video has to be perfect’. Even during learning how to do that, I walked out and was like, ‘I can’t do this, I give up’. But (then I was like), ‘Yo we have to finish this, the video has to come together’.”
The rapper also recalls his surprise at the viral controversy surrounding the track’s accompanying trainers. “Those sneakers were just supposed to be a thing for fans,” he explains. “I didn’t think it was going to spread outside of my fanbase. I was wrong. I can’t even get any more for my siblings, which sucks, but I got my own pair, so that’s good.”
Last month, Lil Nas appeared on SNL to perform “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”, complete with a pole and a flame-patterned leather co-ord, which, as it turns out, is a deadly combo. Near the end of his set, the rapper dropped it like it’s hot, ripped his trousers, and nearly exposed himself on live TV.
“I was about to get into my little pole routine for the performance, and I’m like, up, down, then I felt a bunch of air,” he tells Desus & Mero. “I was like, ‘Did they turn the fan on?’ But (then I was) like, ‘OK, I’m sure my entire ass is on television now. There’s nothing I can do about it, so let’s just try and finish this performance up’.”
Watch Lil Nas X’s full interview with Desus & Mero below.