The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was set to dazzle with the world premiere of Lil Nas X’s documentary, “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero.” However, the event took an unsettling turn when reports emerged of a bomb threat specifically targeting the Grammy award-winning artist. The threat, which delayed the premiere, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by queer artists in the industry.
The documentary, co-directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and Zac Manuel, had its team eagerly awaiting the red carpet debut. Editor Andrew Morrow, alongside the co-directors, had already arrived when the unsettling news unfolded. Just as Lil Nas X himself arrived at the premiere, organizers were alerted to a phoned-in bomb threat directed at the artist due to his identity as a Black queer artist.
While a source confirmed that the bomb threat singled out Lil Nas X because of his identity, Judy Lung, vice president of publication and communications for TIFF, refrained from confirming this detail. Lung stated, “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.”
She continued, “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.”
Nas’ arrival at the event was delayed by 20 minutes while the festival’s security team conducted a thorough venue sweep, ultimately deeming the bomb threat not credible. The rapper eventually joined Estrada and Manuel on the red carpet, and the screening began around 10:30 pm.
“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” provides an intimate look into the artist’s first-ever global tour, which concluded in March. Beyond the glamour of the tour, the documentary delves into Nas’ reflections on his rapid rise to fame and the complexities of navigating his journey through identity, family, and acceptance. Speaking to reporters on the red carpet, Lil Nas X expressed his desire for fans to “see the real me” through the documentary.
“I am someone who is always joking and making fun 24/7, so through this film they can take what they want to,” Lil Nas X shared. He added that the film marks the end of one era in his life and the beginning of a new one, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in his artistry.
