Why didn't The Shop: Uninterrupted offer a "sanctuary" for Lil Nas X in his clash with Kevin Hart over anti-gay prejudice?

The Grapevine

The LeBron James-produced series promised to give "viewers a one-of-a-kind barbershop experience, which for many provides a sanctuary for free-flowing and spirited discussions." Yet the "Old Town Road" rapper's defense on Tuesday's episode of coming out in June amid his chart-topping success resulted in Hart gaslighting his past homophobic remarks. "The whole conversation was a gaslighting chamber where a bunch of (presumably) cis-hetero men coaxed Lil Nas X to agree with them that his coming out wasn’t entirely necessary nor a big deal," says Tonja Renée Stidhum. "As heterosexual people don’t have to risk it all with their sexual identity, no, it shouldn’t matter in an ideal world. But, it f*cking does. It does matter for a black f*cking rock star to come out as gay for the little black boys who are ashamed about the way they feel because it isn’t seen as 'normal.' And anyone who thinks it doesn’t matter is being willfully obtuse at this point. I can’t help but feel for Lil Nas X in this moment, as he attempted true vulnerability in a space he assumed was safe yet was ultimately shut down. What kind of haphazard brotherly love is this?! For all of its lauding about safety, this black barbershop didn’t seem safe at all for a young black man trying to unpack the weight of his sexuality reveal at the height of his career."

ALSO:

• It was fascinating to watch 20-year-old Lil Nas X school 40-year-old Kevin Hart on the inarguable nature of homophobia
• Hart's gaslighting of his past homophobia was infuriating: Lil Nas X "had the composure of a saint for opting not to call out the "painfully bright pink elephant in the room"
• Lil Nas X's “really from the hood” clapback to Hart was the closest any of the guests on the show came to acknowledging Hart's past homophobic jokes