Lil Nas and ‘Long Live Montero’ Premiere Delayed by Bomb Threat at Toronto International Film Festival
Lil Nas X found himself at the centre of a distressing incident at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where he was set to premiere his documentary, “Long Live Montero.” A bomb threat, targeting the artist due to his Black identity and sexuality, disrupted the event’s atmosphere.
The incident unfolded on Saturday (September 9) just as Lil Nas X was preparing to walk the red carpet for the premiere. Reports emerged initially via Variety, which shed light on the gravity of the situation. A source closely connected to the event revealed that the threat specifically singled out Lil Nas X as a Black queer artist, demonstrating the alarming intersection of racism and homophobia.
However, TIFF representatives held a different perspective on the matter. A spokesperson for the Toronto International Film Festival explained, “Earlier this evening, we were made aware by the Toronto Police Service of an investigation in the vicinity of the red carpet for the ‘Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero’ screening. Our standard security measures remained in place during this time and the screening commenced with a slight delay. To our knowledge, this was a general threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”
Despite this unsettling incident, Lil Nas X’s venture into documentary filmmaking is a significant step in his evolving career. However, it’s worth noting that the artist hasn’t always been eager to step in front of the camera as a subject or actor.
In a revealing interview with Variety for their Young Hollywood issue in 2021, Lil Nas X disclosed that he had been offered a role in Drake’s HBO hit show, “Euphoria.” Regrettably, the “Old Town Road” hitmaker had to make a choice between starring in the show or focusing on his upcoming album, “Montero,” and he ultimately opted for the latter.
“I was actually going to do ‘Euphoria,’ but I didn’t want to take time from finishing my album,” he explained at the time, expressing his commitment to his music.
Looking ahead, the 22-year-old artist expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of iconic artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, who have successfully ventured into the world of film. He aspires to explore various genres and projects in the film industry, from drama to comedy, aiming to diversify his creative portfolio much like he has done in music.
“Honestly, I want to dabble around in a lot of things like I do in music,” he articulated in the interview. “A Star is Born. Let’s also do a Grown Ups 2. Let’s do an Obsessed with Beyoncé. Maybe we claim the sequel. We do the gay version of Obsessed.” His ambitions reflect his desire to make a significant impact not only in music but also in the world of cinema.
