Everyone’s been talking about Lil Nas X this week after his truly epic performance at the BET Awards last Sunday.
Surrounded by a group of hunky musclebound dancers, the 22-year-old rapper performed his single “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”. The homoerotic performance culminated in Lil Nas X grabbing one of the dancers and kissing him passionately on the lips.
It was the first male-male smooch in the history of performances at the BET Awards. And the crowd went wild.
Afterwards, Madonna tried taking credit on Instagram for being the first person to perform a gay kiss at a major music awards show when she locked lips with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV VMAs.
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The post, which was meant to be a joke, ignited a major firestorm, with many pointing out that two straight women pecking each other on the lips as a publicity stunt is much different than an openly gay rapper kissing another man in front of his mostly straight peers.
Then people started reminding the pop icon of all the other times she tried taking credit for things she didn’t actually come up with and it got real awkward real fast.
Hey sis, let’s recenter the conversation back where it belongs since you couldn’t even be bothered to list ballroom legends in that song of yours #DidItFirst pic.twitter.com/3fbNGuA27T
— coreyography (@DJCoreyCraig) June 30, 2021
Same-sex smooches on live TV are still a rare sighting even today, but they do happen from time to time. Scroll down for four more televised gay kisses by musicians from over the years. Mmmwah!
Adam Lambert
The American Idol alum sang his song “For Your Entertainment” at the 2009 AMAs. During the performance, he got frisky with one of his male backup dancers and ignited an homophobic firestorm. Looking back on the experience recently, Lambert said, “I was pulled off of ABC for a little while. They were freaked out. They had Christian parent groups writing in. The censors were freaked out. The thing I found so funny was like, ‘Censors? It’s a kiss. When was that indecent?'”
St. Vincent & Dua Lipa
Though they didn’t actually lock lips, the erotic chemistry between the queer singer/songwriter and the blossoming gay icon/LGBTQ ally was palpable as they offered seductive glances, flirtatious touches, and sultry near kisses during their performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
t.A.t.u.
The Russian music duo released their international hit “All the Things She Said” in the summer of 2002. They promoted the song on pretty much every major television show, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where they kissed before the cameras quickly cut away. Sadly, this particular story doesn’t have the happiest of endings because after it was revealed that neither of the singers actually identified as queer, they were accused of gaybaiting. Then in 2014, one of them revealed she would “not support a gay son” despite owing much of her success to LGBTQ people.
Boy George and Andy Bell
I see @adamlambert and @Madonna trending for walking so @LilNasX could run but it’s time to let the GOATS out!
From 1989 BRiT awards @AndyBell_info and @BoyGeorge ???? pic.twitter.com/fOPdgu2Uzy— Tracy Hurley Martin (@tracyhmartin) June 30, 2021
The openly gay singers smooched on stage at the 1989 Brit Awards. Unfortunately, not many people remember it today because it was quick kiss and because the show was an absolute disaster that included several missed cues, flubbed lines, boos from the audience, a pre-recorded message from Michael Jackson that never aired. In 2018, veteran reporter David Owens, who had been tasked with covering the ceremony that night, recalled it in an essay titled “What is was really like at the disastrous 1989 Brit Awards.”
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Gabby
Last time I ever log on. Reply with whatever nasty comment you like – I won’t even see it. Why does Queerty hate Madonna so much? Everyday a new “article” trying bash a woman who has been such a positive light for so many gay men and boys for over 35 years. F*CK OFF so over it!
aswin_kichuz
Exactly my thoughts, i don’t know who is letting them to shower so much hate on Madonna
BoomerMyles
Madonna gets so much hate because she’s petty, ungracious and in terms of talent made a shifty career of hype over substance.
She’s also disparaged many gay people in her past and stole other performers’ work without giving their credit.
People found her shtick tired 20 years ago.
Hdtex
@Gabby
Don’t announce your departure. JUST LEAVE! NOBODY WILL MUSS YOU!
John
Someone at Queerty needs to sit Graham down and teach him Madonna 101. It’s apparent he was born yesterday and doesn’t understand how important she has been to the gay community from the beginning. The lack of respect for her from a gay publication is appalling and is unacceptable.
MissTerri
NOBODY WILL ***MUSS*** YOU!
Hi-LAR-ious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aswin_kichuz
I cannot believe a woman who had major impact in gay culture is being mistreated for a silly Instagram post.
Hdtex
I can’t belive her fans cry like little girls. She is a talentless old biznatch.
Hdtex
The sooner this old bitty takes up knitting, the better we’ll all be, cause she sure can’t sing.
lykeitiz
Except that she won the Golden Globe for “Evita” after taking vocal lessons. But please, tell another unfounded Madonna lie.
rickywintour
You’ll be old soon too missy. I hope your petty old self can has any talent or down something for gays. Kindly piss off to the nearest glory hole tired ancient grandpa.
ScottOnEarth
Graham Gremore, I’m genuinely curious why you hate Madonna. Your disdain for her is so obvious and no one says you have to like her just because of her decades of LGTBQ advocacy; however, your attempts to diminish her unparalleled, historical legacy fall flat every time. You can’t cancel a superstar of Madonna’s wattage. In fact, there is no other superstar at Madonna’s stratospheric level but I do like that she inspires you in a certain, dark way.
John
I guess he’s just jealous. Nothing he ever does in his life can compare to what Madonna has done and that kills him inside. It’s really sad.
misterX
It’s not that deep, calm down
cuteguy
Two white women kissing is not news. Two black men kissing who are lgbtq in front of a black audience who have a past of being homophobic is EPIC. Thank you Lil Nas for being so brave and making his audience evolve into 2021. Much respect to him and to all those that are brave enough to do what’s right
lykeitiz
It was 2 white women and one latin woman, and at the time it WAS news. Huge news. Lil Nas X himself said it was a joke, so really no one else should be concerned. Everything you said about him is true, and this constant bickering about Madonna only diminishes what you pointed out. What he did (and where he did it) was culturally impactful. So was Madonna’s, but because of the haters, the comparison is being lost.
Calin
F U Queerty with this Madonna BS!! And F U to all those Madonna haters!!!
lykeitiz
“A quick roundup of gay kisses at music award shows that doesn’t include Madonna”
The 2nd “example” did not actually kiss, and the 3rd “example” were proven to be frauds.
But yeah, let’s continue to read this “journalist – ahem” bash Madonna.
Bonuscheque
WTF is wrong with this site why they hate Madonna so much? That bitch is it!I If she were dead ya’ll be loving her I love her she is really a queen to so many people. Would love to see ya’ll pull out your bank balances to show her she would laugh in your face #jealousqueensaretheworst