Though he didn’t take home any Grammy Awards on Sunday night, singer Lil Nas X proved once again that a performer can win the night without taking home a trophy.
The 22-year-old received five nominations going into the ceremony Sunday evening, including nods for Record of the Year for his song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name) and Album of the Year for his album Montero. He also took to the stage during the show to perform a medley of his hits while wearing a rhinestone mesh halter top.
Apparently, the sight of Lil Nas X’s muscular midriff triggered some viewers–namely former Fox and Friends host Greg Kelly. Kelly, who now contributes to conservative network Newsmax and maintains his own right-wing podcast took to Twitter to chastize Lil Nas X for his performance.
Related: Lil Nas X powerfully explains why he was “delusional” to chase his dreams
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“Lil NAS has a BIG PROBLEM (And so does America)—-knock yourself out NAS. You’re a little FOOL with zero talent!!!!” Kelly ranted.
damn greg all i did was wear a crop top this time ?? https://t.co/p8w0E503U3
— MONTERO (@LilNasX) April 5, 2022
Lil Nas X, never one to pass up an opportunity to smack down homophobia, replied in kind. “Damn greg all i did was wear a crop top this time,” he tweeted.
That clap-back evidently infuriated Kelly even more, who returned to Twitter to bash Lil Nas X for “lewdness.”
“It’s not the shirt NAS—it was the PUBLIC LEWDNESS. You know there are LAWS about that in certain ‘jurisdictions’—but then again you were in VEGAS so who the hell knows. Bottom line: SING AND DANCE but no public self GROPING. DECENCY,” he wrote.
It's not the shirt NAS—it was the PUBLIC LEWDNESS. You know there are LAWS about that in certain "jurisdictions"—but then again you were in VEGAS so who the hell knows. Bottom line: SING AND DANCE but no public self GROPING. DECENCY! https://t.co/qHSIFPLnpL
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) April 5, 2022
Hmmm. Somehow, we have a feeling Kelly wouldn’t object to a woman in a crop top doing some suggestive dancing. Moving on…
Lil Nas X shut down the conversation with a simple “Apologies, have a good night” message to Kelly. That prompted the conservative wonk to issue an apology… sorta.
“I didn’t like the performance. That shouldn’t have been on prime time television. BUT, I can’t deny you have real talent. And it’s not nice to Call anyone a fool! You called me out in a ‘good natured’ way. NP. Good luck, continued success, just tone it down a notch Next year,” Kelly said.
I didn't like the performance. That shouldn't have been on prime time television. BUT, I can't deny you have real talent. And it's not nice to Call anyone a fool! You called me out in a "good natured" way. NP. Good luck, continued success, just tone it down a notch Next year !
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) April 5, 2022
In any case, the quip incited wide support for Lil Nas X from his fanbase who took to Twitter to lambast Kelly. Have a look at some of our favorite responses…
You mad Greg? pic.twitter.com/CVcSNOUK0R
— Dom (@Dom_R52) April 5, 2022
But it was OK when Madonna was groping herself for 20 years on stages all over the world. Oh please
— ChaChi Perez (@ChaChiPerez3) April 5, 2022
Buddy it's ok, breathe. We get it, you can't stand that someone is being themselves and doing way better than you. It's ok, just stay mad. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/kjqavb25Jn
— Trippy Ty ? (@Trippy_Ty777) April 5, 2022
are u sure that's why you're bothered greg? 😉 pic.twitter.com/JARYFszQMp
— Janelle???? (@ailuross_) April 5, 2022
Jurisdictions – he means red states where they care more about banning books about penguins they they do about their own children getting slaughtered.
— Alex Colson (@AxColson) April 5, 2022
— ?M (@KeyToMal) April 5, 2022
I think Greg liked it @LilNasX because it made him uncomfortable in the places his underwear covers.
— theweatherstan (@theweatherstan) April 5, 2022
Bosch
A trump fanboy complaining about groping? Honestly. I’m starting to think that the flouride in the water is having some detrimental neurological effects.
whereshouldistart
Don’t rule out the fact that many of these people also ingested huge amounts of lead paint chips and huffed a lot of gasoline for shits n giggles.
white-queer-african
Maybe he would like to grab Nas by the…let’s not go there. He is as gross, inwards and outwards, as his hero Dumph!
thisisnotreal
Nice to see that the phrase kill ‘em with kindness still works.
James
Greg kelly, another stupid homophobic moron.
barryaksarben
My gay roommate watches the NFL only BECAUSE the players are ALWAYS groping themselves some to the point that it looks masturbatory but Greg seems OK with those supposed straight men groping themselves
Mack
Truth
Kangol2
Miss Kelly Thang really got worked up by Lil Nas X! He probably regularly dreams about what’s between Nas X’s legs….
GentlemanCaller
Boy conservatives who don’t want anyone else telling them what to do are certainly comfortable telling everyone else how to live, how to dress, who to love, what to think.
Fahd
Maybe it’s a promotional stunt for the new Elvis Presley biopic. Weren’t there a lot of complaints about Presley’s “suggestive dancing” during the 1950s?, an era when Mr. Kelly would have felt more comfortable.
That initially hateful Tweet is astounding, but I guess it got Mr. Kelly in the news, glomming on Nas X.
Gordon of the Bassets
Fahd, it goes back even further. Al Jolson the Jewish black-face singer star of the first talkie was mostly filmed-from the waist up because of his “shimmy-shawobble” dancing. He made Elvis look demure.
Jack
Sadly in 2022, this is as close to respectful as it gets. I’m way more petty than Lil Nas X. Good for him.
JessPH
I grew up in the 90s when Marky Mark (Wahlberg) and Vanilla Ice self-groped all the time.
CNY1983
am i the only one who thinks he shot (what he considers) a big load later that night in bed thinking about nas’ body and dick? first of all anyone who was ever on fix and fiends should just shut his ugly mouth, when your dick is small and you attack another man for being sexy its like taking a BULLHORN and announcing how inadequate you feel you are. I feel sorry for whoever’s face he sticks his little dick in front of … YICK!