In fact, one could argue that Lil Nas X throwing in the prison break finale was half-hearted at best. But what both prison-centric videos have in common is that each star of the narrative is ultimately trying to break out (with Gaga doing so more tamely) despite how fun they make it look on the inside (an element that, in turn, could receive additional criticism for Lil Nas X in particular).
![lil nas x gay jail lil nas x gay jail](https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/lil-nas-x-industry-baby@2000x1270.jpg)
Perhaps thinking, “Why not?,” “Homoeroticism is so chic,” “When in prison, er, Rome…” and all that la-di-da sort of bullshit.įor Lil Nas X, the dick potential in prison is far realer than whatever Lady G is pretending to lust after in the form of snatch.
![lil nas x gay jail lil nas x gay jail](https://www.unilad.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/lilnasprison1.jpg)
In Gaga’s case, of course, she appears to be “lez” or bi for the sake of “getting along” while in the slammer (not just nicknamed that because of the sound a jail cell door makes). In the exercise yard (also a requisite scene in Lil Nas X’s version of prison), Gaga is looked upon like a tantalizing snack before she allows one of the more butch women to kiss her-in fact, the aggressor seems to be the person Gaga modeled her occasional male alter ego, Jo Calderone, after. Though, to be fair, she does bring attention to her “(gay) penis envy” when one of the guards remarks after stripping Gaga down in her cell, “I told ya she didn’t have a dick.” The other replies, “Too bad.”
![lil nas x gay jail lil nas x gay jail](https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Lil-Nas-X-cr-Adrian-Per-press-2021-billboard-1548-1630424166.jpg)
Granted, Lady Gaga only wishes she could be a bona fide gay man to execute that now illustrious shower dance scene Lil Nas X has henceforward seared into all of our brains. More than anything about Lil Nas X’s latest foray into “creating controversy” simply by being himself in the video for “Industry Baby,” it’s most interesting to note just how much of a “Telephone” vibe he’s exuding as he dances and careens his way through prison.