Lil Nas X to perform at MTV VMAs as music’s most powerful gay star picks up five nominations

Words: Alastair James; pictures: YouTube

Lil Nas X is going to be performing at the MTV Video Music Awards, for the first time in two years, and we can’t wait to see what show he’s going to put on for us!

The 22-year-old Grammy winner is set to be performing his latest hit ‘Industry Baby’ and given the iconic music video for that, as well as his recent performances, we are 100% sure this will be a performance worth watching.

The VMAs are taking place in Brooklyn’s Barclay Centre on 12 September.

“GET YOUR SOLDIERS”

Lil Nas X is one of only five stars that have been confirmed to be performing at the event so far. Camilla Cabello, Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, and Machine Gun Kelly have also been confirmed.

Lil Nas X is up for five awards this year including video of the year for the empoweringly gay ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’.

MTV announced the news on Wednesday (18 August) saying on social media: “GET YOUR SOLDIERS AND TELL EM… THAT LIL NAS X IS PERFORMING AT THE 2021”

GET YOUR SOLDIERS AND TELL EM… THAT LIL NAS X IS PERFORMING AT THE 2021 #VMAS 🗣

Who’s excited to see @LilNasX‘s performance on September 12 on @MTV? pic.twitter.com/PmHbtPVnQ3

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 18, 2021

Two performances of X’s have already caused a stir this year. First, in May he performed ‘Montero (CMBYN)’ on Saturday Night Live. While his trousers may have split, it was certainly still an electric performance (thankfully he shared what the rehearsal had looked like, so we did eventually get the full thing complete with pole dancing!) He was also licked by his dancer, Yainer Ariza, who Out magazine reports is rumoured to be X’s boyfriend.

Then in June, performing ‘Montero’ again at the BET Awards in a steamy number inspired by Michael Jackson’s ‘Remember the Time’ music video, Nas kissed Ariza at the end of the song, sending many of us into a jealous frenzy.

Responding to criticism of the kiss, which at the time only got three complaints to the FCC, Lil Nas said: “Like the song is literally about gay sex what y’all want me to do play the piano while baking a cake?” 

Yainer Ariza also recently addressed the kiss in an interview with Attitude saying, “It’s educating people”.

So, all-in-all, we’re set for a good show!

Lil Nas X has also teased us this week about his upcoming debut album saying: “i’m happy to announce that i will be announcing my announcement soon”… 

i’m happy to announce that i will be announcing my announcement soon 🤍

— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) August 16, 2021

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