The Black Entertainment Television network’s annual awards ceremony, called BET Awards, has stirred the pot with white rapper Jack Harlow being among those who’ve been nominated to receive the award. 

Harlow showed up at the ceremony sporting a Lil Nas X t-shirt, along with pants and shoes from Givenchy, as per the rapper’s label. The tee is meant as a show of support to Harlow’s collaborator on ‘Industry Baby’. Lil Nas X has often drawn attention to his exclusion from the BET Awards and Harlow’s fashion choice is his own silent statement. 

Harlow’s choice to not be as vocal as Lil Nas X might also stem from the fact that fans weren’t too pleased with a white rapper being nominated. 

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Nas had earlier detailed his rocky relationship with BET, including his 2021 performance, saying “My relationship with BET has been painful and strained for quite some time. It didn’t start with this year’s nominations like most people might think”, and adding, “They did let me perform on their show last year, but only after [I gave] assurances that I was not a satanist or devil worshiper, and that my performance would be appropriate for their audience” in an interview with Rolling Stone. 

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However, a BET spokesperson called Nas’ summation of the events untrue, saying “Since last year’s performance, we have been in touch to work on other projects”. The rep added, “We are still excited about his previous performances and continue to wish him well. But today, we are focused on culture’s biggest night and delivering history-making moments for fans worldwide.”

Lil Nas X’s music also reflects his relationship with BET, since the June 24 release ‘Late to Da Party‘ has a chorus line ‘F**k BET’ and includes an album cover of a person urinating over the BET Award in the toilet.