Lil Nas X shares original SNL pole dancing routine after splitting trousers live on air
The 'Montero (Call me By Your Name)' singer opened up about the incident on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude
Despite an ill-timed wardrobe malfunction involving a slut drop and a torn crotch (we’ve all been there), Lil Nas X delivered a performance for the ages on Saturday Night Live last weekend – but the singer has now revealed the original pole dancing routine he was forced to abandon mid-performance.
Lil Nas X, who was left red-faced when his trousers split during his sexy, queer performance of chart-topping single ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’, opened up about the incident during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday (25 May) as he shared rehearsal footage that of the original acrobatic moves he (understandably) decided to forego.
“I was like, ‘Ooh, there’s definitely a breeze going on’.”
Recounting the moment he realised he was in danger of exposing himself to the world during the live televised performance, Lil Nas X told Fallon and fellow guest Dave Grohl: “I was pretty much going down the pole, doing my little sexy drop-down and ‘boom’ – I feel air.
“I was like, ‘Ooh, there’s definitely a breeze going on’. And I also felt some popping still happening when I was down there.
“I was like ‘Oh God, just please don’t be on TV already!’.”
The Georgia-born star continued: “The worst part is, at the end of the performance the dancers were supposed to touch me and tug me, and they were tugging on the pants and I was like ’Please God, no!’
“I couldn’t say it because that would ruin the performance, like ‘Guys, stop, please!’ I couldn’t say it.”
He added: “It was perfect timing – if it had ripped at any other time in the performance, everything [would have been on show], over!”
“I would never rip my pants in public on purpose”
After Fallon played footage of Lil Nas X’s original pole routine – one which mirrored ‘Montero’s epic music video – Foo Fighters frontman Grohl declared what all of us were thinking: “Well now I can understand – now I can see why you didn’t finish!
Shutting down any lingering haters, Lil Nas X added: “I want everyone who thought it was a publicity stunt to see that – I would never rip my pants in public on purpose.”
With his dignity still firmly intact, the trailblazing gay star went on to tease what fans can expect from his debut album, Montero, when the long-awaited record drops later this year.
“My entire life has led up to this moment”, he said. “It’s honest, it’s 100% me: I’m exploring my sexuality, myself… It’s like a coming of age story, my heartbreaks – there’s been a lot of those in the last couple of years!
“It’s everything, it’s something everyone can vibe along to.”
Watch Lil Nas X’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon below: