Orville Peck has addressed speculation that a lyric in his new song “Ring the Bell” refers to former Las Vegas Raiders player Carl Nassib.
The track, from Peck’s album Mule, includes the line: “I love the Lakers, the Mets and the Longhorns, made out with a guy on the Raiders.” Fans have linked the reference to Nassib, who came out as gay while playing for the Raiders and became the first openly gay active player in NFL history.
Peck has declined to identify the player directly, but said the person in question gave him permission to include the lyric and was pleased by it.
“I’m going to preface this by saying that I did receive permission to sing that lyric from the subject in question and he was very thrilled,” Peck told Variety. “I told him, ‘Look, I’m gonna keep it sort of ambiguous and mysterious, but I would like to include this in this song.’ He was very, very honored.”
The singer said he would not have used the reference if the person had been concerned about it becoming public.
“I would never have done it if it were somebody who was hiding or fearful of it coming out,” he said. “This person would have probably allowed me to say their name if I wanted, but I didn’t think it was necessary. People can use their own common sense and discovery to try to figure out who it may be, but that’s all I’ll say.”
