The "Old Town Road" singer said he hoped his coming out would inspire change in both the country and hip-hop communities.

Ian West / PA Wire via AP Images

Lil Nas X has opened up about his decision to come out as gay last week, explaining he hopes that by going public with his sexuality, he can inspire change in the music world. "I kind of revealed [it] .... that I am gay," he told the BBC in an interview Friday about his cryptic tweets at the end of Pride Month. “It’s something that, you know, I was considering never doing, ever. Just taking it to the grave or something," he added. "But I don’t wanna live my entire life — especially how I got to where I’m at — not doing what I wanna do."



Old Town Road rapper @LilNasX has seen a backlash since he came out earlier this week - but he tells @BBCBreakfast he's taking it with a sense of humour.

On Sunday the "Old Town Road" singer urged fans via Twitter to listen closely to the lyrics of "C7osure," a song from his latest release, 7 EP. "Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure," he wrote, adding a rainbow emoji. The song referenced his desire to no longer be "actin'," including the line, "This is what I gotta do, can't be regretting when I'm old." In a follow-up tweet, Lil Nas X highlighted the rainbow on the art for his EP as another clue about his sexuality.

deadass thought i made it obvious

Lil Nas X told the BBC that he hoped his coming out "opened doors" for others and that "they feel more comfortable." "Especially within the country and the hip-hop communities, which both songs combine, it's not really accepted in either," he said. He added that he has already been dealing with anti-gay backlash from some online but that he has a healthy approach to dealing with haters. "Learning the internet over the past couple of years, I used to be that person being negative," he said. "So, it's like, I'm not angry or anything because I understand how they just want that reaction." "But I'm just going to joke back with them," he said. Indeed, Lil Nas X has been deploying memes and jokes on Twitter to mock anyone who has an issue with his sexuality.

just got news that i’m gay and i will no longer be streaming my music. i’m sorry that shit is just not ok.

https://t.co/KBNodPsODg

me on instagram: in paris 😎 the comments:

next nigga to say something offensive to me getting kissed

In another memeable moment at the end of his interview with the BBC on Friday, Lil Nas X accidentally walked in front of the hosts' camera. "You know how to steal the show!" host Charlie Stayt joked.