Posted by Lil Nas X has become one of the industry’s biggest success stories over the last few years. Since breaking out in 2019 with “Old Town Road” featuring country star Billy Ray Cyrus, the 23-year-old Georgia native has won multiple Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and two BET Hip Hop Awards, among many others.
But on Wednesday (June 1) when BET rolled out its list of 2022 BET Award nominations, his name was noticeably absent. Taking his frustrations to Twitter, Lil Nas X wrote in a since-deleted tweet, “thank you bet awards. an outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence!”
Lil Nas X went on to explain it wasn’t necessarily upset about the lack of nominations for his debut album MONTERO or singles such as “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow or “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” Instead, he pointed to his sexuality and race as factors when asked why he felt he deserved to be nominated.
“idk maybe 3 of the biggest songs of last year & a critically acclaimed album,” he continued. “feel like that should’ve helped me a bit … not even that, doesn’t even have to be me nominated. 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 presented we are invisible.”
Doja Cat leads the way with the most BET Award nominations this year in numerous categories, including best female Hip Hop artist, best female R&B/pop artist, album of the year, BET Her for “Woman” and video of the year and best collaboration for “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA. Doja Cat is also this year’s only artist to be nominated in both R&B/pop and Hip Hop categories.
Doja Cat Leads 2022 BET Awards Nominations
Right behind Doja Cat is Drake with four nominations and Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chlöe, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Ye (formerly Kanye West), Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige and Tems with three. It all goes down on Sunday (June 26) at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.