Lil Nas X thanks Adam Lambert for ‘opening doors’ for LGBTQ+ performers
Lil Nas X performing as part of his world tour. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Lil Nas X)
Lil Nas X has credited Adam Lambert with paving the the way for LGBTQ+ performers.
The rapper/ pop superstar/ gay icon revealed in an interview with heavy he has thanked Lambert in person for his continued support, crediting him with ‘opening doors’ for more LGBTQ+ performers.
“I know Adam, we’ve met a couple of times,” Lil Nas X said.
“I did thank him in person, actually. I really appreciate all the love that he’s shown me and I definitely don’t take it for granted. And I appreciate all the doors that him and people like him opened.”
Lambert, who came out to Rolling Stone in 2009, is one of the most successful alumni of American Idol.
He has a long history of being vocally supportive of Lil Nas X, who is currently in between the North American and European legs of his world tour: Long Live Montero.
Adam Lambert performing for Cher. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Lil Nas’ iconic same-sex kiss with a backup dancer while performing at the 2021 BET (Black Entertainment Television network) Awards, saw Lambert heap praise upon him, more than ten years after Lambert kissed his male keyboard player during the 2009 AMAs (American Music Awards).
“I thought it was hot,” Lambert told Billboard at the time.
“He’s really giving it to us. I think he is definitely like the gay pop star that is 2021 – he’s bold, he’s controversial, he’s pushing boundaries. That’s what we want our pop stars to do. It’s just taken this long to have it be a gay one.”
Lil Nas X voguing to Pure/Honey on the Long Live Montero tour. (@kiddynamite222/Twitter)
In further praise, he spoke to Attitude Magazine, saying that the artist has been “pushing [the needle]”.
“Someone like Lil Nas, he’s a proper star at this point, lots of hits, streams, eyes on him,” Lambert said.
“He’s not afraid of controversy, to get in people’s faces, challenge people. He’s on Twitter, clapping back. It’s brilliant, funny, irreverent, confident.”
Lil Nas also spoke about his hopes for what he means for LGBTQ+ youth who look up to him.
“My honest advice is to really learn how to be OK with messing up and failing a lot of the time to evolve,” he said. “It’s gonna be hard, but it’s going to help you a lot.”
