Aisha Harris, a host of Pop Culture Happy Hour on National Public Radio, published an article on June 25, 2022, about Lil Nas X (a rising pop star)’s reaction to not getting a nomination for the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards.
His disappointment came from the belief that his sexuality was the reason why BET chose not to nominate him. In a tweet that was since deleted, he said, “I just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world, and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”
In an industry that’s mainly composed of white people, the fact that he was rejected by people who went through similar struggles as he did was upsetting for him. When his Grammy wins were pointed out, he responded with, “this is my point exactly how can i get acknowledged by the most acclaimed award show in the world and then not even just 1 nomination from my own people? is that not crazy?”
His reason for his belief could’ve come from experience. Online, he has faced many examples of homophobia and mockery, including some from rapper Boosie Badazz. Harris wrote about the criticism, writing that “his flamboyance has been criticized by other queer people, who have accused him of being too ‘in your face about his sexuality.”
Similar events have happened before as both Drake and Frank Ocean have protested the Recording Academy and the Grammys for dismissing Black artists. Frank Ocean decided not to submit his album Blonde in 2016 for consideration for a Grammy, and Drake asked the Recording Academy to remove his two nominations in last January’s ceremony.
Since then, the industry has changed—the Grammys said in May that they would remove their secret nominating committees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences diversified its membership this week by extending membership invitations to 397 film artists from 54 different countries, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was examined by new organizations in 2021 for its lack of Black membership.
BET has since responded, saying that they love his work, but the Voting Academy that makes nominations is made up of “nearly 500 entertainment professionals … No one from BET serves as a member of the Voting Academy.”
Article: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107514955/lil-nas-x-bet-awards-late-to-da-party-new-single
His disappointment came from the belief that his sexuality was the reason why BET chose not to nominate him. In a tweet that was since deleted, he said, “I just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world, and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”
In an industry that’s mainly composed of white people, the fact that he was rejected by people who went through similar struggles as he did was upsetting for him. When his Grammy wins were pointed out, he responded with, “this is my point exactly how can i get acknowledged by the most acclaimed award show in the world and then not even just 1 nomination from my own people? is that not crazy?”
His reason for his belief could’ve come from experience. Online, he has faced many examples of homophobia and mockery, including some from rapper Boosie Badazz. Harris wrote about the criticism, writing that “his flamboyance has been criticized by other queer people, who have accused him of being too ‘in your face about his sexuality.”
Similar events have happened before as both Drake and Frank Ocean have protested the Recording Academy and the Grammys for dismissing Black artists. Frank Ocean decided not to submit his album Blonde in 2016 for consideration for a Grammy, and Drake asked the Recording Academy to remove his two nominations in last January’s ceremony.
Since then, the industry has changed—the Grammys said in May that they would remove their secret nominating committees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences diversified its membership this week by extending membership invitations to 397 film artists from 54 different countries, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was examined by new organizations in 2021 for its lack of Black membership.
BET has since responded, saying that they love his work, but the Voting Academy that makes nominations is made up of “nearly 500 entertainment professionals … No one from BET serves as a member of the Voting Academy.”
Article: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107514955/lil-nas-x-bet-awards-late-to-da-party-new-single