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Writer: Da'Zhane Johnson
Last summer, basketball star Lebron James introduced a talk show on HBO called The Shop. The show is set up to replicate a well-known safe space, specifically for black men, in the black community – the barbershop. Historically, the barbershop is a time of vulnerability, gossip, laughter, and anything else for that matter. Therefore, the reputation of the show replicates these historical factors as well.
In a recent episode, Lil Nas X was a guest on the shop along with several other public figures like Kevin Hart. The “Old Town Road” artist was asked why he felt “it was necessary to come out and say” he was gay. During his response, Hart stated “he said he was gay. Who cares?” This statement immediately reached backlash from fans. As the conversation continued, Lil Nas X stated his reasoning.
“It’s not that it's like being forced, it’s just… I’m growing up to hate this shit,” he began. “If for me ‘the cool dude with the song’ on top of everything to say this at any other time, I’m doing this for attention in my eyes. But if you're doing this while you’re at the top, you know it’s like for real. It’s showing… it doesn’t really matter, I guess.”
Most felt that Hart was gaslighting the artist during his explanation to ultimately get him to admit that “it doesn’t really matter.” It’s important to note exactly why the comedian’s good intentions failed on his part.
The LGBTQ community is already at their wit's end with Hart for his old homophobic tweets. So, his dismissive tone in “who cares” exhibits, once again, that he still doesn’t understand fully. Many members of the LGBTQ community seek negative consequences, some even deadly, for exposing their truth to the world. These are repercussions that a heterosexual man can never understand to the fullest.
Although it is 2019, and we like to think everyone is accepting, ultimately, this isn’t true. By coming out, Lil Nas could’ve lost sponsorships, fans, and like I stated earlier his life. He even explained that these threats are heightened for being black, which is true. Our communities often contradict in values. We’re told to mind our business, but also seem same judgmental glares from the people who are “minding their business.” Furthermore, we’re told that black men, in particular, should not be gay. Homosexuality is strictly reserved for white men.
The question should’ve never been “who cares,” but why we need to continue to care. If Hart doesn’t start asking this question, his false reality of everyone being accepting will only lead him to more trouble.
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