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Lil Nas X Arrested and Hospitalized After Early Morning Altercation With Police
Grammy-winning rapper Lil Nas X has been arrested and briefly hospitalized following a confrontation with Los Angeles police early Thursday morning. According to LAPD spokesperson Charles Miller, officers encountered the 26-year-old star — real name Montero Lamar Hill — around 6 a.m. on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. The Old Town Road hitmaker was reportedly wearing only underwear and cowboy boots at the time.
Video Footage Surfaces
TMZ obtained footage of the incident, showing Lil Nas X claiming he was on his way to a party. When confronted by officers, he allegedly charged at them, leading to his arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor battery.
Before booking, officers transported him to a hospital over concerns of a possible drug overdose. He was discharged after a few hours and transferred to Valley Jail in Van Nuys, where he is being held on suspicion of obstructing an officer.
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A Career of Highs and Recent Health Struggles
Lil Nas X rose to fame with Old Town Road, which spent a record-breaking 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He later cemented his pop-rap crossover status with hits like Industry Baby and Montero (Call Me By Your Name).
The arrest adds another turbulent chapter to the rapper’s personal journey. In April, he revealed he had been hospitalized due to sudden facial paralysis, sharing on Instagram that he had “lost control of half [his] face.”
Lil Nas X Reveals Health Scare from Hospital Bed: “Lost Control of the Right Side of My Face”
New Music on the Horizon
Despite personal setbacks, Lil Nas X has been gearing up for a musical comeback. His highly anticipated album, Dreamboy, is set to drop later this year. In recent weeks, he teased new music on TikTok and Instagram, adopting the playful alter ego “Queen Madeleine” and sharing images of himself in dramatic costumes alongside quirky apartment rearrangements.
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Fans had been anticipating his next creative era, especially after his recent singles hinted at a darker, more experimental sound. However, Thursday’s incident has cast a shadow over the rollout.
With Dreamboy expected before year’s end, the arrest could complicate promotional plans. Still, given his history of resilience and reinvention, industry watchers say Lil Nas X may turn the controversy into part of his narrative.
For now, fans are left waiting — both for his legal outcome and for the music he has promised in 2025