It was a scene few could have imagined: Lil Nas X, one of the most recognisable names in music, wandering the streets of Los Angeles naked. Days later, he is facing four felony charges.
The 26-year-old rapper, born Montero Lamar Hill, pleaded not guilty on Monday to injuring three police officers and resisting arrest. If convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison.
The arrest followed a police call about a nude man walking along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in the early hours of Thursday. “When officers arrived, the man charged at them,” said Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Videos published by TMZ appear to show the Grammy-winning artist first in white underwear and cowboy boots, dancing in the street. Later, he is seen completely naked, rapping lyrics from Kanye West’s Monster while stepping into the road. The boots, left behind at the scene, were later listed on eBay for $10,000.
Authorities said Lil Nas X was taken to hospital for a suspected overdose before being moved to jail, where he spent the weekend. His bail was set at $75,000, according to CBS.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed that three officers were injured during the scuffle. “Attacking police officers is more than just a crime against those individuals but a direct threat to public safety,” Hochman said. “Anyone who assaults law enforcement will face serious consequences, no matter who they are or how famous they may be.”
The arrest comes at a critical time in the rapper’s career. Lil Nas X has been teasing new music and is expected to release his second studio album, Dreamboy, later this year.
Since the breakout success of Old Town Road in 2019 — a record-breaking hit that spent 17 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 — he has remained one of the most polarizing figures in pop culture. His unapologetic style has won him millions of fans but has also drawn criticism, particularly from conservative groups in the United States.
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