Lil Nas X’s arrest follows years of personal struggles, health scares, and a step back from fame.
Lil Nas X revealed earlier this year that he had been going through a tough time—just months before his shocking arrest in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 21.
The 26-year-old rapper, best known for his smash hit “Old Town Road,” was taken into custody after police responded to early morning calls about a man reportedly “nude in the street” along Ventura Blvd. According to the LAPD, the incident escalated when Lil Nas X allegedly had a physical altercation with an officer. He was booked on a misdemeanor charge of battery on a peace officer.
Police confirmed that he was transported to a hospital for treatment before being released and formally booked. Hours later, TMZ shared photos appearing to show the Grammy winner walking around the street at 4 a.m. in only underwear and boots. The outlet also reported that multiple calls were made about a possible overdose, though officials have not confirmed those details.
The arrest comes after Lil Nas X had quietly stepped back from the spotlight in recent years. In February, he spoke candidly in a video—later shared by fans on X (formerly Twitter)—about his struggles and his creative journey. “These last few years were pretty difficult for me,” he admitted. “I’m just now, like, arriving to this place of feeling confidence in myself and what I’m doing.”
He told fans that he wanted to put more intention into his music and creativity moving forward. In March, he explained to PEOPLE why he had chosen to live a quieter life away from the glare of fame. “I jumped straight into adulthood with extreme fame around me,” he shared. “So it was really nice to be just outside walking and meeting people in the streets and eating at restaurants, just even alone, spending a lot of alone time in solitude.”
But life continued to throw challenges his way. In April, the rapper revealed on social media that he had been hospitalized after suddenly losing control of the right side of his face. While he shared a video update with his 10 million followers, he never publicly disclosed whether doctors gave him an official diagnosis.
Since then, Lil Nas X has remained largely absent from social media, surfacing only occasionally with small updates. His Thursday arrest marks the latest chapter in a turbulent period for the artist who skyrocketed to global fame at just 20 years old.
As of now, he faces a misdemeanor charge while fans continue to worry about his well-being following reports of a possible overdose.
