The Atlanta-born rapper was arrested in August and charged with four felonies: three counts of battery against a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.

Lil Nas X to attend mental health program to resolve LAPD battery charges

The Atlanta-born rapper was arrested in August and charged with four felonies: three counts of battery against a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

April 6, 2026 4:41 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Lil Nas X appears in court on March 12, 2026. Credit:

Daniel Cole-Pool/Getty

Things are looking up for Lil Nas X as the rapper's felony police battery case is a step closer to being dismissed.

On Monday, Judge Alan Schneider ruled that the Grammy winner, born Montero Hill, be granted entry into a mental health diversion program, *Rolling Stone* reported. So long as Lil Nas X complies with the treatment plan determined after his bipolar disorder diagnosis, as well as obeying all laws for the next two years, the case will be dismissed.

The musician is also prohibited from possessing any weapons and threatening any violence during the two-year program.

"When treated, he is much better off, and society is much better off," Judge Schneider told the court, finding that the artist's arrest in August was "aberrant from his normal conduct."

Lil Nas X arrives at the Los Angeles Superior Court Van Nuys Courthouse on March 12, 2026.

Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty

The court determined the incident was linked to the artist's subsequent diagnosis of bipolar disorder, with the judge adding that Lil Nas X "appears to be doing very well."

According to *Rolling Stone*, Lil Nas X's defense lawyer, Christy O'Connor, told the court that Lil Nas X voluntarily checked himself into the Meadows treatment hospital in Arizona after his arrest and received nearly two months of inpatient care that was "absolutely successful."

He has since transitioned to what she described as a "pretty rigorous mental health regimen," including weekly sessions with a psychotherapist and appointments with a psychiatrist every three months. She said the incident last summer was highly public and "humiliating," and that Lil Nas X is committed to his ongoing care.

Reps for Lil Nas X and O'Connor didn't immediately respond when ** reached out for comment.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

The Atlanta-born rapper was arrested last August in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, where officers alleged they found the 26-year-old walking nude in the street shortly before 6 a.m. Authorities claim he charged at officers when confronted, leading to his arrest. Suspecting a possible overdose, police transported the musician to a local hospital, where he spent several hours before being taken to jail.

TMZ was the first to report that the rapper was seen wandering the streets of L.A., sharing video footage of Lil Nas X captured by a passerby. A subsequent video from the outlet saw the man believed to be the "Old Town Road" singer fully naked, having shed the boots and underpants worn in the initial footage. (An individual who claimed to be present for the rapper's walk grabbed the boots from the street and listed them for sale on eBay, seeking $10,000.)

The "Industry Baby" rapper was charged with four felonies: three counts of battery against a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

Lil Nas X attends the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards on May 27, 2021.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Shortly after his arrest, the rapper uploaded a video to his Instagram Story in which he assured followers that he would be "okay."

"Your girl is gonna be okay, y'all," the artist said in the clip. "Okay? She's gonna be all right. S---."

The singer looked away for a moment, letting out a tired laugh before he continued. "That was f---ing terrifying. That was terrifying. That was a terrifying last four days. But your girl is gonna be all right."

The court set a progress report hearing for July 29, but the rapper doesn't need to appear in person.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Lawsuits & Legal Troubles

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”