Lil Nas X's recent fake pregnancy photoshoot has sparked a mass debate on social media among the transgender community.
The 22-year-old rapper took an unconventional approach to announce his debut album by staging a full pregnancy photoshoot in which he cradled his fake bump.
Despite the well-intentioned post, his images were met with raised eyebrows from many critics, with some being members of the LGBTQ community.
In fact, the 'Old Town Road' hitmaker - who himself is part of the LGBTQ community after coming out as gay - was quickly labeled "transphobic" by some people online.
In a post online, Schuyler Bailar - a trans advocate and athlete - explained that he believed that the fake pregnancy was "insensitive and irresponsible".
What's more, he said it relied on a "shock factor" grounded in the idea that men cannot get pregnant, pointing out that "trans men can and do all the time".
Alongside screenshots of transphobic comments left under the rapper’s post, Bailar wrote: "Lil Nas X’ portrayal of pregnancy as a cis man welcomes ignorance and hatred towards the trans masculine community specifically."
But his post triggered mixed responses, as some of his Black trans followers pointed out that he had called out Lil Nas X, but not James Charles - who also posted a fake pregnancy shoot earlier this year.
Among those to have a different viewpoint was Kayden Coleman, who during an Instagram Live conversation with Bailar explained that he agrees Lil Nas X could be perceived as transphobic by other trans men.
However, despite that, he believes that those criticizing the singer without also calling out cis white men who have done the same thing are showing anti-Black bias.
"It’s the doors that we can open… we can use this to leverage a conversation that needs to be had," Coleman said.
In a follow-up post, Bailar explored how his own initial posts had exhibited anti-Blackness, saying "the pain that some trans masculine folks feel in response is real and valid, but should not be directed at Lil Nas X when countless white men have engaged in the behavior prior and not received the same critical energy for it."
The pair's debate soon turned into an understanding conversation, as other social media users applauded them for being so open and receptive.
However, not everyone was as understanding as Bailar and Coleman, as many critics slammed Lil Nas X for his photoshoot.
In response, the rapper showcased his witty humor by addressing the "negative energy" he was hit with, saying that it's "not good for the baby," per Insider.
After the backlash, the musician - real name Montero Lamar Hill - tweeted: "Let me get offline, all of this negative energy is not good for the baby."
