Joe Yates
Lil Nas X has been arrested and charged in connection with four felonies after he allegedly assaulted a cop who found him naked in LA.
Prosecutors charged the musician, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, with three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer, the District Attorney’s Office said.
The rapper was initially booked on suspicion of misdemeanour obstructing an officer on Thursday.
He is set to be arraigned later on Monday.
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Police said officers found the 26-year-old walking naked on Ventura Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in the Studio City area, shortly before 6am on Thursday (August 21).
They say he charged at the officers when confronted and was arrested.
Police, suspecting a possible overdose, took him to a hospital where he spent several hours before being taken to jail, where he has remained since.
It has since been reported that Hill was wearing briefs and white cowboy boots at the time of his arrest.
The rapper and singer from Atlanta is best known for his huge hit from 2018, Old Town Road, which merged country and hip-hop. It spent a record 19 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Known for his genre-bending, innovating sounds and style, his first full studio album, 2021’s Montero, went to number two on the Billboard album chart and was nominated for a Grammy for album of the year.
In April, Hill took to his social media account to share that he was suffering with partial facial paralysis - the following month he canceled his headlining act for West Hollywood's Outloud Pride festival.
"Soooo lost control of the right side of my face," the rapper wrote, captioning a video that appeared to shows the 26-year-old upbeat despite receiving healthcare.
He said: "When I smile, this is me doing a full smile right now by the way… it’s like, what the f**k. I can’t even laugh right, bro. What the f**k! Oh my God. So… oh my God, bro. So… yeah."
The rapper didn't explain how the right side of his face got paralyzed in the first place, but went on to say that it could be due to medical issues such as an infection, injury, or a brain condition, usually when the nerves controlling your facial muscles are irritated or damaged.
In a statement issued at the time, organizers of the festival shared: "We’ve been in close contact with Lil Nas X and his team regarding an ongoing medical issue."
Before Hill himself added: "After my recent hospital visit, I – like all of you should – must prioritize my health and getting back to 100%."
LADbible Group has reached out to Lil Nas X's representatives and the Los Angeles Police Department for further comment.