Lil Nas X trolled Jerry Falwell Jr by claiming he got accepted to the evangelical Liberty University

Lil Nas X appears to have faked an acceptance letter from the extreme evangelical Liberty University as part of the promo for his new single, leading some fans to question whether the out rapper’s antics have gone too far.

“I know Twitter hates me right now but I want y’all to know I’m literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall,” the “Industry Baby” rapper wrote in an X post on Tuesday, along with an image of his supposed acceptance letter from the Christian college. “Not everything is a troll! Anyways IM A STUDENT AGAIN! LETS GOOO.”

Related:

Lil Nas X claps back at Christian rappers outraged at him for rapping about God

“yall do not know jesus personally stop trying to gatekeep him.”

I know twitter hates me right now but i want yall to know im literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall. Not everything is a troll! Anyways IM A STUDENT AGAIN! LETS GOOO pic.twitter.com/kTYbjevyZ7

— ✟ (@LilNasX) January 9, 2024

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Everything may not be a troll, but this is. The letter Lil Nas X posted was signed “Jerry Falwell, President.” In reality, the current president of Liberty University is Dondi E. Costin. The university’s founder, evangelical pastor and anti-LGBTQ+ activist Jerry Falwell Sr. died in 2007. His son, Jerry Falwell Jr. served as Liberty University’s president from 2007 to 2020, when he resigned amid a sex scandal involving himself, his wife, and a former pool boy.

The social media platform added a disclaimer to the post clarifying that Costin is the university’s current president, and Falwell even commented on Lil Nas X’s post.

“I know this is a joke,” the disgraced anti-LGBTQ+ evangelical wrote, “but I wouldn’t have hesitated to sign that letter for you to enroll. Don’t believe all the lies that have been told the last 3 yrs! No judgment at LU, only grace!”

Liberty University bans “social dancing,” drinking alcohol, fraternizing with the opposite sex, and, of course, being LGBTQ+.

Reactions to the post ran the gamut from credulous fans congratulating the rapper to blatantly homophobic messages. Meanwhile, some fans seemed to be fed up with Lil Nas X’s current publicity campaign.

“Boo get better material. You’re trolling of Christians is so 1980’s [sic],” one X user commented.

“I love him but I wish he’d aim higher than making noise by trolling judgmental Christians bc the artistry is actually there and, I dunno, he did this last promo round,” another wrote.

Boo get better material. You're trolling of Christians is so 1980's.

— Clay (@GhostStalker451) January 10, 2024

I love him but I wish he’d aim higher than making noise by trolling judgmental Christians bc the artistry is actually there and, I dunno, he did this last promo round. https://t.co/0sVTItR2EN

— Rae Sanni (@raesanni) January 10, 2024

Others interpreted the post as a direct reference to Falwell’s sex scandal.

Lmfao people not getting the Liberty or Jerry Falwell references 😭😭😭

— Logan™️ (@RecklessSpaGoat) January 9, 2024

Damn, Jerry Falwell is going to introduce you to his wife.

— Goad Gatsby (@GoadGatsby) January 10, 2024

For weeks, Lil Nas X has been criticized for “mocking” Christianity in the lead-up to the January 12 release of his new single, “J Christ.” The “Old Town Road” rapper has been teasing new music for weeks, courting controversy along the way. In late November, he posted a snippet of a new song along with the caption, “Y’all mind if I enter my christian [sic] era?”

His unexpected turn toward religion sparked backlash from Christians, but that hasn’t dampened his unapologetically provocative sense of humor however. “Making christian music does not mean i can’t suck d**k no more. the two are not mutually exclusive. i am allowed to get on my knees for multiple reasons,” he wrote in response to critics on X.

This week alone, he has posted the cover art for “J Christ,” featuring an image of himself being hoisted on a cross, a TikTok clip of himself taking shots of holy wine and gobbling communion wafers, and a promo clip of himself on a gold cross that transforms into armor.

Some fans have come to Lil Nas X’s defense, posting examples of other rappers and pop stars who have used Christian imagery in their work.

he’s not the first or last to do it yall just homophobes https://t.co/Zl1qglNNgA pic.twitter.com/CAYC6Af4tH

— OLVIDATE DE EL (@musicofleo) January 9, 2024

Madonna was literally setting crosses ON FIRE all those years ago, and everybody calls it ‘cunt’ and screams ‘mother’ today. But when Lil Nas does not even a fraction of that, it’s blasphemy and mockery? Please. https://t.co/abFbTtlC5b

— EZRA (@DANASDEFENSE) January 8, 2024

Everyone talking about Lil Nas X disrespecting religion I need you to go outside and touch the first green thing you see cuz I know you ain’t say nun about Kendrick or Pac or Cole or Ye or Jay or…..

— Mr. Gray (@GaryLGray) January 8, 2024

“The problem is y’all judge everything at face value,” Lil Nas X wrote in a Tuesday X post. “I’ve never released a visual without an underlying meaning and y’all know that. but since i’m a troll y’all discount my art as just ‘pissing ppl off.’”

the problem is y’all judge everything at face value. i’ve never released a visual without an underlying meaning and y’all know that. but since i’m a troll y’all discount my art as just “pissing ppl off” https://t.co/8Tw1sPf9Qs

— ✟ (@LilNasX) January 10, 2024