Lil Nas X Pranks Religious Conservatives Ahead of New Song Release

Lil Nas X pranked the religious right with a fake acceptance letter to Liberty University, the latest promotional stunt for his upcoming album, which Nas X has claimed will mark his "Christian Era."

The fake acceptance letter – signed, tellingly, by late Liberty University president Jerry Falwell – was part of a post on X (formerly Twitter) the "Industry Baby" singer made on Jan. 9.

"I know twitter hates me right now," Nas X posted, " but i want yall to know im literally about to go to college for biblical studies in the fall."

"Not everything is a troll!" the singer added in a knowing wink to those who caught on that a troll was exactly what the post was. "Anyways IM A STUDENT AGAIN! LETS GOOO," the post concluded.

"We can confirm that Liberty University did not issue the Montero Hill 'acceptance letter' posted yesterday to social media, and we have no record of Montero Hill applying to the University," a Liberty spokesperson told TMZ.

"Liberty University exists to glorify God by equipping men and women in higher education in fidelity to the Christian faith expressed through the Holy Scriptures."

The post, which is typical of the humor and style that Nas X has used throughout his career, follows earlier posts teasing a new album. In one, the out recording artist promises the advent of a "Christian Era" and a website seemingly dedicated to his spiritual redemption.

In another post, Nas X appears as an angel with a machine gun in his hands; a third, which appeared Jan. 10, teased a video for a new single, due to drop Jan. 12 and titled "J Christ," that showed a procession of celebrities – some living, some dead – dressed in white gowns and walking in a procession to the afterlife. The video will reportedly also show Nas X in the role of Jesus on the cross.

The "Christian Music" theme of Nas X's new promotional efforts (and, perhaps, new album) is the flip side of his earlier satirical use of Satanic imagery, TMZ noted, pointing out that the lead-up to "J Christ" is "very much the opposite of his devil song from a few years ago ... 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name).'"

In that music video, which launched a moral panic among right-wing Christians, Nas X depicted a journey to Hell, where he gave the devil a lap dance. Critics took the imagery literally, claiming the singer was promoting satanism, while fans understood the intent of the song was to skewer the narrative pushed by religious conservatives that posits the eternal damnation of LGBTQ+ people for the "sin" of being something other than heterosexual and cisgender.

That single, and the album it was part of, are major components to the upcoming HBO documentary "Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero," which premieres Jan. 27.

As with that earlier hit, more serious messages will be present among the fun; as TMZ noted, Nas X "insists the art will contain a deeper meaning," though "what that is, we'll just have to wait until Friday, which is when this song's coming out."

Listing the as-yet-untitled new album among the most eagerly anticipated of the year, Variety suggested that "we can count on a social media campaign full of provocation and comedy."