The music world was sent into a frenzy early Thursday morning when Lil Nas X, 26, was reportedly hospitalized following an unusual encounter on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, California.
Witnesses told authorities they saw the rapper walking in the middle of the street at 4 a.m., wearing nothing but underwear and cowboy boots.
Police reportedly described the situation as a potential overdose.
Witnesses Call Police Over Erratic Behavior
According to TMZ, multiple people in the area contacted the LAPD after spotting a nude man wandering down the street.
Officers found Lil Nas X still walking along the road, and sources claim he allegedly charged at them before being subdued and handcuffed.
Paramedics were called to the scene and transported the rapper to a nearby hospital, where he is receiving care.
Law enforcement sources mentioned that charges could potentially be filed in connection with the incident.
Strange Footage Captures Bizarre Behavior
Video from the scene, captured by a driver and obtained by TMZ, shows Lil Nas X in a highly erratic state.
In the footage, he sings, talks about a party, strikes poses, and even asks the cameraperson for their phone.
At one point, he places an orange traffic cone on his head and encourages the driver to “not be late to the party tonight.”
He repeatedly urges the person behind the camera to spread the word about the party, joking and gesturing in a playful, yet unsettling manner.
At one point, he threatens to throw the phone far away, adding to the surreal nature of the encounter.
Lil Nas X’s Past Experiments with Drugs
The rapper has previously been open about experimenting with drugs.
In a 2021 interview with WSJ, he shared how he tried psychedelic mushrooms for the first time while working on his debut album, Montero.
Lil Nas X was accompanied by producers Denzel Baptiste and David Biral, who remained sober, providing him support while he reflected on life and relaxed in a pool and hot tub.
He described the experience as creatively liberating, saying it allowed him to open up about his life and incorporate those stories into his music.
In 2020, Lil Nas X also revealed to Variety that he used weed heavily to cope with personal losses, including the death of his grandmother, eventually finding a sense of connection with the universe.
Recent Health Scares Add Context
This incident follows a previous hospitalization just four months ago, when Lil Nas X experienced partial facial paralysis.
At the time, he shared a hospital video showing the right side of his face frozen while trying to smile, though he maintained a lighthearted attitude.
He reassured fans that he was okay, posting selfies and videos captioned with humorous remarks about his condition, emphasizing that he was “so cooked” in modern slang, meaning extremely tired or struggling with a situation.
He even asked fans not to worry, encouraging them to “shake Ur a**” instead of feeling sad for him, demonstrating his usual playful, irreverent approach to life.
Fans and Media Respond
As news of the Studio City incident spreads, fans and media outlets are watching closely for updates.
Representatives for Lil Nas X have not yet responded to requests for comment, leaving many to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the early-morning event.
