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Lil Nas X confirms he dated 'That's What I Want' music video co-star: 'I love him'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated Oct 1, 2021 4:21 PM ET

The chemistry between Lil Nas X and Yai Ariza for the steamy "That's What I Want" music video was not manufactured.

"We were dating, and we're still on very good terms," Lil Nas X confirmed to SiriusXM's Hits 1. "You know, we may date again, I'm sure."

The 22-year-old pioneering hip-hop star continued: "I love him. He's amazing. I wanted to just kind of focus on my music right now."

Lil Nas X then called Ariza "the best person I've ever dated" and admitted he's "still very much in love, but I'm trying to manage, you know? If it's meant, it'll happen in the future."

Separately on SiriusXM this week, the two-time Grammy winner revealed to Andy Cohen that he "was seeing someone" but "decided I didn't want to anymore":

The football-themed "That's What I Want" music video dropped simultaneously with Montero, Nas's debut solo studio album, on Sept. 17:

Nas labeled the visual as "my favorite video I ever made," while Ariza called it "so big and special" and gushed over Nas:

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A post shared by Yai Ariza (@yai_ariza)

The track debuted at No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100. Montero produced 11 entries on this week's chart, including "Industry Baby" at No. 2 and "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)," which previously became his second career No. 1 hit, at No. 9.

Megan Armstrong

Megan Armstrong (@megankarmstrong) is a writer whose work has appeared in places such as Billboard, GQ, Esquire, Bleacher Report, Uproxx, and others. Megan has also produced various podcasts and hosted a daily radio show at Mizzou. She grew up obsessed with sports — impressing adults by memorizing NFL statistics as a kindergartner — and grew into an obsession with music

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