Lil Nas X is one of the year’s biggest breakout stars. However, tweets yesterday suggest that his meteoric rise has not always been easy.
“i usually deal with my sad times in private because i don’t like for my fans or family to feel sorry for me,” he said. “This year had a lot of very high ups and extremely low downs. when u get to that hotel room and it’s just you, you do a lot of thinking. small things become so BIG.”
i usually deal with my sad times in private because i don’t like for my fans or family to feel sorry for me. this year had a lot of very high ups and extremely low downs. when u get to that hotel room and it’s just you, you do a lot of thinking. small things become so BIG.
— nope (@LilNasX) December 8, 2019
In a follow-up tweet, the 20-year-old went on to say: “i like to pretend hate and shit don’t get to me, but subconsciously it eats away at me. feeling like u have the world and knowing it can all go away at any time is scary. with all this being said i want anybody who cared enough to read this to just live in the moment. love u guys.”
i like to pretend hate and shit don’t get to me, but subconsciously it eats away at me. feeling like u have the world and knowing it can all go away at any time is scary. with all this being said i want anybody who cared enough to read this to just live in the moment. love u guys
— nope (@LilNasX) December 8, 2019
The tweets prompted a huge response. Lil Nas X has built a huge following not only with his music but also his sweet and fun-loving social media presence.
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Related: Lil Nas X becomes first out gay man to win Country Music Award
Many of those commenting on his tweets sought to remind him of how loved he is and offered advice for managing depression.
By anyone’s standards, the singer and rapper – real name Montero Lamar Hill – has had an incredible year.
Not only did he score the longest-running number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 with the Diamond-certified “Old Town Road”, but he followed it up with “Panini” and won himself a clutch of awards. This included an American Music Award and Country Music Association Awards. He’s nominated for seven Grammy awards.
He also came out as gay while “Old Town Road” was at number one – the first artist to do so while his record was top of the charts.
Related: Lil Nas X says that he tried ‘praying & praying & praying’ to be straight as a teen
His success has prompted some controversy. “Old Town Road” – a country and rap hybrid – was initially dropped from Billboard’s Hot Country chart, with Billboard saying the track did “not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.”
Many slammed the decision as racist. Billboard denied the accusation and subsequently put the song back on the country chart.
His coming out as gay also prompted plenty of inevitable comments from social media trolls.
Until now, Lil Nas X has appeared to take it all in his stride. The only indicator things might be a struggle was in September, when he pulled out of two festival appearances, explaining to fans that he needed a rest after working hard for the previous seven months.
it’s been a wild last 7 months and im ready to take a little time off. sorry to everyone attending twitchcon or the sandbox music festival, i will not be there. i love u guys and will make it up to you some way. 😎❤️
— nope (@LilNasX) September 27, 2019
tf3.0
To come out at the peak of your career is an incredibly brave and noble thing to do.
He had everything to lose, and still pulled the trigger.
If for that reason alone, he is one of the most significant artists of his generation.
Kangol2
Love you, Lil Nas X. Stay strong and I hope you find and maintain emotional support going forward. That’s going to be key.
AshtonC
May he stay strong. Fames a bitch.