Lil Nas X spoke about the backlash to coming out as gay in a BBC interview, Friday.

The “Old Town Road” rapper had hinted about his sexuality earlier in the week in series of Tweets highlighting his lyrics and the artwork on releases of his songs. “I kinda revealed it,” he told the BBC when asked about his sexuality. Pushed on what he had revealed, he replied: “That I’m gay.”

He was asked whether he expected any negative reactions to the news. “Oh, I’m already getting it,” he said. Evidently, it has not phased him. “I used to be that person being negative,” he said. “I’m not angry or anything [about it], because I understand how they just want that reaction.”

Off the back of a triumphant performance of crossover hit “Old Town Road” at the Glastonbury Festival, Lil Nas X was speaking from the more sedate surroundings of the “BBC Breakfast” studios, at one point walking in front of, and blocking the camera on the British pubcaster’s morning news and entertainment show.

He admitted he had considered never coming out, but had a change of heart. “I don’t want to just live my entire life, especially how I got to where I’m at, just not doing what I want to do,” he said. “I’m also, I feel like, opening the doors for more people.”

— VARIETY