Lil Nas X’s coming out message has been welcomed with both support and criticism alike.

The rapper addressed his sexuality for the first time in a new interview with BBC Breakfast. During the sit down, X discussed the potential impact his identifying as gay could have on his career in country and hip-hop music. He said of his coming out message:

[“I mean, it’s just something that I was considering just never doing it, ever, just taking to the grave or something. But I don’t wanna just live my entire life – especially, you know, how I just got to where I’m at – just not doing what I wanna do. I’m also, I feel, opening doors for more people.”]

As for his detractors, X still maintains a positive outlook. “I’m not angry” he said, “ because I understand how they want that reaction. So I’m just going to joke back with them.”

He said he hoped his fans would “feel comfortable” but admitted homosexuality was “not really accepted in either the country [or] hip-hop communities”.

X has enjoyed huge success with his county-rap crossover hit “Old Town Road,” which topped the UK singles chart in April. The song became a viral hit but was controversially removed from Billboard’s country chart because it did “not embrace enough elements of today’s country music.”

As previously reported, X closed Pride Month by sharing with fans that he identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. The details of his struggles to come out are chronicled in the song “c7osure.” The song, taken from his debut EP 7, talks about needing to be “free” and includes the lyrics: “This is what I gotta do, can’t be regretting when I’m old.”

X accidentally walked in front of the camera while exiting BBC Breakfast.

“Nas, can we just say, you just walked right across our camera shot,” host Charlie Stayt told the rapper after his mistake, laughing. “You see, you know how to steal the show.” Looking embarrassed by the flub, Lil Nas X promised Stayt and cohost Naga Munchetty he learned his lesson.