“MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” and its provocative music video made Lil Nas X one of pop culture’s most fearless LGBTQ+ artists, sparking moral panic, Satan Shoes controversy, and a new era of queer visibility in mainstream hip-hop.
The Coming Out Context
After coming out as gay in June 2019 (during Pride Month, at the peak of “Old Town Road”), Lil Nas X faced backlash from homophobic fans and hip-hop traditionalists. Many said his career was over.
He responded by becoming more openly queer, more provocative, and more successful.
The Song and Video
Released March 26, 2021, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” was Lil Nas X’s first solo single in nearly two years. The song is unabashedly about gay desire, using biblical references and ancient Greek mythology.
The music video shocked conservative America:
- Lil Nas X as a gay angel in the Garden of Eden
- Seduced by a snake (himself)
- Pole-dancing down to Hell
- Giving Satan a lap dance
- Taking Satan’s horns and becoming the Devil
The imagery was intentionally provocative, reclaiming religious trauma and damnation narratives used against LGBTQ+ people.
The Backlash
Conservative media and politicians exploded:
- Governors and TV preachers condemned the video
- Parents claimed it was “corrupting children”
- “He’s promoting Satanism!” became a talking point
- Death threats flooded Lil Nas X’s social media
His response? Mockery. He posted a fake apology video that cut to the lap dance scene. He leaned into the controversy, understanding it as free promotion.
Satan Shoes
Days after the video, Lil Nas X collaborated with art collective MSCHF on “Satan Shoes”—Nike Air Max 97s modified with:
- Red ink and one drop of human blood in the sole
- Bronze pentagram charm
- “Luke 10:18” reference (Satan falling from Heaven)
- 666 pairs made, $1,018 each
Nike sued MSCHF (not Lil Nas X), claiming trademark infringement and brand damage. The shoes sold out in minutes and became valuable collector’s items.
The Album
“MONTERO” (the album) dropped September 17, 2021, debuting at #2 on Billboard 200. It featured:
- “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
- “Industry Baby” (with Jack Harlow, #1 hit)
- “Thats What I Want”
- Collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion
The album was unapologetically queer, sexual, and vulnerable—exploring fame, love, loneliness, and identity.
Cultural Impact
Lil Nas X’s strategy worked:
- He proved LGBTQ+ artists could be mainstream pop stars in hip-hop
- He normalized gay sexuality in a genre historically homophobic
- He showed younger queer fans that they could be unapologetically themselves
- He mastered social media engagement, turning controversy into career fuel
Industry Baby Prison Video
The “Industry Baby” video (July 2021) featured Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow in a homoerotic prison shower scene with dancers twerking. It became another viral moment, with conservatives again outraged and fans celebrating.
The song reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100, proving controversy didn’t hurt—it helped.
Legacy
“MONTERO” represented a turning point for LGBTQ+ representation in hip-hop. While openly gay rappers existed before (Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator), Lil Nas X was the first to be this explicit, this provocative, and this successful.
He refused respectability politics, embracing camp, sexuality, and trolling as art forms.
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