Grammy winner arrested in L.A. after police find him half-naked and hospitalise him for overdose fears

Lil Nas X was arrested and briefly hospitalised in Los Angeles on Thursday morning following a chaotic encounter with police that left the chart-topping rapper facing criminal charges.

Authorities say officers were called to Ventura Boulevard in the Studio City neighbourhood shortly before 6am, where they discovered the 26-year-old walking in nothing but underwear and cowboy boots. Video of the incident, obtained by TMZ, appeared to show the two-time Grammy winner telling officers he was “going to a party” as they attempted to intervene.

Police spokesperson Charles Miller confirmed that the artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, became aggressive when approached. According to Miller, he “charged at officers,” prompting his arrest on suspicion of misdemeanour battery.

Concerns for his health meant that before being taken to jail, officers first transported the star to hospital, fearing he might have suffered a drug overdose. After a few hours of treatment and observation, he was released from medical care and transferred to Valley Jail in Van Nuys.

By late morning, he had been booked on suspicion of misdemeanour obstruction of an officer and was still being held. No further details about his condition were provided.

The incident marks another unsettling turn in a turbulent year for Lil Nas X. In April, he revealed to fans that he had been hospitalised after experiencing sudden facial paralysis, sharing footage on Instagram in which half his face appeared immobile. At the time, he told followers he had “lost control” of his facial muscles but assured them he was recovering.

News of his arrest comes just months before the expected release of his new album, Dreamboy. The record, anticipated later this year, follows a series of singles released in the spring and a recent return to social media activity. In the past week, the rapper re-emerged online under the Instagram name “Queen Madeleine,” sharing new music snippets and striking photoshoots, alongside images of his apartment furniture rearranged in eccentric styles.

Lil Nas X first broke into the mainstream with Old Town Road in 2019, the viral country-rap crossover that shattered records by remaining No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks. Since then, he has cemented his place in pop culture with provocative hits such as Industry Baby and Montero (Call Me By Your Name), gaining both acclaim and controversy for his fearless blending of music, fashion and identity.

But his rising career has also been punctuated by personal struggles and health concerns. Thursday’s spectacle on Ventura Boulevard has added a new layer of scrutiny, with fans already expressing shock and concern on social media.

Despite his public profile, police stressed that the charges against him were standard procedure given the altercation. “He was treated like any other suspect under the circumstances,” Miller said.It remains unclear whether the incident will affect plans for Dreamboy’s release or his scheduled appearances later this year. For now, the focus is on the rapper’s health and legal situation as the fallout from his arrest unfolds.