5 Years Ago Today, A 2021 No. 1 Hit Became One of the Most Controversial Songs to Top the Charts

Exactly five years ago today, on April 12, 2021, the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 was getting an explosive reaction from fans and detractors. Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ was a major commercial success. At the same time, the track was also sparking outrage. That combination made it one of the most divisive top songs in U.S. chart history.

5 Years Ago Today, ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ by Lil Nas X Was No. 1

Originally released on March 26, 2021, Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ quickly became a huge hit and pulled off something extremely impressive. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 on April 10, 2021, and still held the top spot five years ago today. While it was No. 1 for only one week, it still had remarkable staying power as it remained on the chart for a total of 35 weeks.

Why ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ Sparked Such a Strong Backlash

When Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ dominated the Billboard chart, the song sparked controversy because it mixed rap and country music elements. However, the backlash sparked by ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ made that previous outrage seem tame. Even Billboard itself once recognized the track as one of the most controversial No. 1 hits of all time.

The music video for ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ dropped on the same day as the song, March 26, 2021. It showed Lil Nas X sliding down a stripper pole from heaven to hell, where he performed a lap dance for a CGI Satan. It also used other religious imagery, including the serpent from the Garden of Eden and Lil Nas X donning angel wings and the devil’s horns at the same time.

The music video’s visuals mostly drove the controversy. However, a business venture tied to the track’s release also angered many. Shortly after releasing the music video, the artist sold a limited run of “Satan Shoes.” The controversial footwear featured a bronze pentagram, an inverted cross, and a drop of real human blood in the sole.

A March 2021 Vox article captured the fierce backlash ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’ faced from some outspoken observers. It quoted a popular Tennessee pastor named Greg Locke, who called Lil Nas X a “little thug” and rejected his music video and shoes. “You think I’m going to stand for that? You’ve lost your mind. Bunch of Satanism. Bunch of wickedness. Bunch of devilism. Bunch of demonism. Bunch of psychotic wickedness.”

The rapper Joyner Lucas also criticized Lil Nas X for releasing the music video without warning young fans. “I think the biggest problem for me is the fact he dont understand ‘Old Town Road’ is every kid’s anthem. Children love him for that record. They tuned in and subscribed to his channels. So with no disclaimer, he just dropped some left field ish & all our kids seen it. Smh.” Those are only two examples of a chorus of outspoken anger that was directed at the artist.

How Lil Nas X Defended His Work Against the Backlash

In response to the backlash, Lil Nas X pushed back firmly. For example, he responded to Joyner Lucas’ criticism about releasing the music video without warning kids by pointing out his past lyrics weren’t kid-friendly. “I literally sing about lean & adultery in ‘Old Town Road.’ U decided to let your child listen. Blame yourself.” When he was accused of “destroying society,” he replied, “There is a mass shooting every week that our government does nothing to stop. Me sliding down a CGI pole isn’t what’s destroying society.”

Most notably, Lil Nas X told Apple Music that he didn’t care about the backlash while reflecting on the confidence that producing the song gave him. “It’s brought a new confidence out of me. To be able to say, ‘You know what? I want to do this, and I don’t give a f**k who’s upset about it.’ I feel like the moment I put this snippet out of this song, I just started to see a shift in myself gradually. The world’s going to keep spinning. But I can do what I want in my own artistic career at all times or I’m going to fail, for me at least. That’s how I feel.”