Lil Nas X thanks ‘gay agenda’ as he wins Video of the Year at MTV VMAs
The 'Industry Baby' singer delivered on the queerest performances in VMAs history on Sunday night.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude; Image: MTV
Lil Nas X ensured the MTV Video Music Awards 2021 will live long in the memory as the gay musical trailblazer took home ‘Video of the Year’ for his groundbreaking track ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’.
The singer’s infamously queer video – which sees the star expelled from the Garden of Eden before descending to Hell on a stripper pole and giving Satan a lap-dance – helped secure Lil Nas X three awards at Sunday night’s ceremony in New York City: Best Direction, Best Visual Effects and Video of the Year.
Accepting the Video of the Year gong, a gleeful Lil Nas X declared: “First, I want to say thank you to the gay agenda – let’s go gay agenda!”
.@LilNasX takes home the 🏆 for #VMA Video Of The Year! pic.twitter.com/Im2sGgNqZY
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 13, 2021
Earlier in the night, Lil Nas X caused a stir on the red carpet in a bejewelled Atelier Versace trouser suit with flowing train in a look seemingly inspired by musical greats Lil’ Kim and Sylvester.
The musician – whose debut album Montero is released this Friday (17 September) – also delivered one of the most proudly queer performances ever seen at the MTV VMAs as he took to the stage to deliver his latest single ‘Industry Baby’ with collaborator Jack Harlow.
Naturally, the set included a skin-filled recreation of the music video’s notorious shower sequence, cementing Lil Nas X’s place as one of pop and rap music’s most fearless performers.
Taking to Instagram following his win for Video of the Year Lil Nas X declared: “AND THIS ONE IS FOR THE CHAMPIONS! VIDEO OF THE FUCKIN YEAR AHHHHHH.”
View this post on Instagram
On Twitter, the star shared a rather more unfiltered celebration, writing: “VIDEO OF THE YEAR AHHHHH SUCK MY COCKKKK AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.”
Elsewhere, Olivia Rodrigo was one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home awards for Best Newcomer and Song of the Year for her global hit ‘Driver’s License’.
Former teen idol and ‘Peaches’ Justin Bieber collected the night’s other big prize for Artist of the Year.