Rapper Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, has been charged with four felony counts following an incident in Studio City, Los Angeles, last week. The charges include three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer. The allegations stem from an early morning encounter on Thursday, August 21, 2025, when police responded to reports of a naked individual walking on Ventura Boulevard.
According to law enforcement, officers found the 26-year-old artist walking naked in the street. When confronted, police claim Lil Nas X charged at the officers attempting to take him into custody, resulting in injuries to at least three officers. Video footage obtained by TMZ reportedly shows the artist initially wearing only cowboy boots and underwear before removing his remaining clothing.
Following the confrontation, Lil Nas X was taken to a hospital due to suspicion of a possible overdose before being transported to jail. He was initially booked on suspicion of misdemeanor obstructing an officer. However, on Monday, August 25, 2025, prosecutors officially filed the more serious felony charges.
During his arraignment on Monday, August 25, 2025, Lil Nas X entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. He is currently being held on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear back in court on September 15, 2025. His legal team has described the incident as an aberration in his life, with his attorney noting that “nothing like this has ever happened to him.”
Lil Nas X, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, first achieved global superstardom with his 2018 hit “Old Town Road.” The genre-bending track, which fused country and hip-hop, spent a record 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him two Grammy Awards. He followed this success with his critically acclaimed debut studio album, “Montero,” released in 2021, which garnered an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammy Awards.
The rapper has previously been open about his health struggles, having shared in April 2025 that he was hospitalized for sudden partial facial paralysis. The current legal situation comes amid Lil Nas X’s established career characterized by innovative music and provocative artistry, challenging cultural norms and often sparking conversations around identity and representation within the hip hop and broader music industries.
If convicted on all counts, Lil Nas X could face a potential sentence of over 10 years in prison. The case highlights the intersection of celebrity, mental health, and the justice system, as public reaction and commentary, often amplified by social media, quickly shape perceptions of such high-profile legal matters.
In the wake of his arrest and charges, Lil Nas X shared a message with his fans via his Instagram Stories, assuring them he would be alright after a “terrifying” few days.
