Lil Nas X Was Target Of Bomb Threat At Premiere Of His Documentary At TIFF
By Fiyin Olowokandi on September 12, 2023 at 1:15 PM EDT
A Lil Nas X troll took their hatred for the pop star to extreme levels by threatening his life!
The sensational artist, born Montero Lamar Hill, recently received a bomb threat at the premiere of his new documentary. The show titled "Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero" debuted at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday, September 9.
However, the "THATS WHAT I WANT" hitmaker's big day was nearly ruined following a shocking call that claimed the 24-year-old Georgia was the major target of the attack. The scary ordeal occurred moments before the two-time AMA winner's arrival on the red carpet.
Sources Claim Lil Nas X Was Threatened For Being A 'Black Queer Artist'
The world premiere night of the entertainer's highly-anticipated documentary got momentarily sidetracked following an alleged homophobic attack. Insiders revealed to Variety that the event was delayed after a bomb threat against the chart-topper was reported.
The incident took place at the Roy Thomson Hall and the venue was scheduled to hold the gala screening at 10 p.m. But the documentary’s co-directors Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel, alongside the editor Andrew Morrow, had arrived on the red carpet before Lil Nas X.
The trio were posing with fans without problems until the "Old Town Road" singer arrived in his vehicle. Before he could join them, the event's showrunners received word that a bomb threat targeting the 24-year-old had been called in.
Sources claimed the entertainer was told to wait, delaying his appearance on the red carpet. According to one informant, the Georgia native was threatened because he was a "Black queer artist." For 20 minutes, the media personality could not leave his vehicle as TIFF security searched the venue for the alleged bomb.
Once they clarified that the threat had been a hoax, the "Industry Baby" hitmaker was allowed to join his colleagues on the red carpet. Due to the delay, the screening reportedly began at 10:30 p.m. Addressing the drama, a TIFF spokesperson revealed authorities had alerted them about the bomb.
“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,” the representative explained. However, the spokesperson refuted sources' claims about the Grammy winner being the intended target.
“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,” the individual claimed. A rep for the Toronto Police Service echoed similar sentiments about the attack.
“Yesterday, at the TIFF, a passerby uttered a threat towards private security. Out of an abundance of caution, the Toronto Police and the private security swept the scene and cleared within 20 minutes. The threat was general and did not target any one person,” the spokesperson announced.
The GLAAD Media Award Winner's Documentary Follows His First Global Tour & Private Life
The bomb threat against the "THE ART OF REALIZATION" artist came weeks after his documentary's premiere was announced in August. The "Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero" film was reportedly filmed for over 60 days with rare access into the creation and performance of the Georgia native's first-ever global tour.
The official synopsis stated that the documentary was “a remarkably intimate portrait of an artist on tour navigating identity, family, expectations, and acceptance.” Additionally, the movie promised to reflect the entertainer's “place within the legacy of Black, queer performers.”
TIFF’s CEO, Cameron Bailey, was excited to work with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity award honoree. In his statement about Lil Nas X's documentary, the media personality praised the film for being an empowering story
“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero is a triumphant ode to the extraordinary power of self-expression, music, and identity,” Bailey chimed. “In this groundbreaking documentary, we witness Lil Nas X challenging boundaries and reshaping the artistic landscape.”
The TIFF CEO continued, “The film’s captivating journey underscores the profound impact of Lil Nas X, who fearlessly brings audiences together through the universal language of music.”
The "SCOOP" hitmaker's documentary arrived months after he and his DJ pal Zedd were sued for damaging a Hollywood Hills mansion. The pair reportedly threw a party and trashed the lavish property they had rented in 2022.
The house owner, Daniel Fitzgerald, requested $1 million in damages, claiming the duo had violated his no-party rule. Additionally, they allegedly caused over $25,000 in property damage and caused him $40,000 in income as he could not rent the home during the repairs.
