On Sunday, Lil Nas X delivered an epic (and of course, frenzy-stirring) performance at the 2021 BET Awards. Performing his controversial single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” the pop phenom sealed his set sharing a passionate kiss with one of his male dancers. Aside from the applause on Lil Nas X’s awe-inspiring declaration of his identity, Madonna claims that the kiss is merely a derivative of one of her most memorable moments.

On Tuesday, the “Material Girl” songstress took to her Instagram story with a photo of her infamous stage kiss with Britney Spears during the 2003 MTV Awards. Comparing the moment of intimacy to Lil Nas X’s jawdropping act, the 62-year-old legend captioned the collage: “#diditfirst.” While we are brooking no arguments against the Madonna Britney smooch being indelibly etched into pop culture history, some fans are raising their brows at the legend’s comment.

For some, Madonna’s bombshell performance felt like queer baiting — a strategy used to tease queer individuals without explicitly stating one’s sexuality. The kiss is also being called into question as a harmful instance of hypersexualizing lesbian relationships. One user on Twitter wrote, “That Madonna post really pissed me off. She’s a white heterosexual woman who capitalised off a lesbian fantasy. Did so while being established and sharing any/all backlash with two other megastars. Lil Nas X, did THAT all on his own, while still climbing the ladder.” Another user, decrying Madonna’s seeming criticism, tweeted: “Not Madonna saying that she did what Lil Nas X did first — when she was actually queer baiting? That woman never ceases to be vile.”

me and madonna are friends. it’s just a joke.

— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) June 30, 2021

In spite of the brewing controversy, it seems as if things are amicable between the two stars. Suggesting that he isn’t taking it personally, Lil Nas X responded to the rumors, writing, “Me and Madonna are friends. It’s just a joke.”