On Thursday, August 25th, Montero Hill, known also as Lil Nas X, was arrested for allegedly walking naked on a boulevard in Los Angeles. Just recently, his father, Robert Stafford, came to his defense, saying that the singer is focused on moving forward.
Videos by Wide Open Country
In an interview with TMZ, Stafford shared that "He's going to get the help that he needs and just keep him in your prayers."
Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty on three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. The "Old Town Road" singer spent the weekend in jail before being released on a $75,000 bail.
There were also reports that Nas had gone through an overdose, but he and his father both denied this. However, the judge also ordered him to attend four Narcotics Anonymous meetings weekly. His father told TMZ that he "absolutely" did "not" take any illegal drugs.
Stafford shared of Lil Nas X's mental health that "He's doing well mentally. We cry, we cry laughing, but he's in a great mood. He's gonna do well."
Defense attorney Christy O'Conner also said that there was no evidence of drug involvement. She also suggested that the whole incident was highly unusual as a whole. She said, "Nothing like this has ever happened to him."
Nas has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 15, and could face up to five years in prison if convicted, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. His father asked that people be respectful and "give [Lil Nas X] the same grace and mercy that God gives everyone."
Nas' Arrest Has Put 'Dreamboy' on Pause
Currently, Lil Nas X is preparing to release his second studio album, Dreamboy. The album is expected to drop sometime in 2025. He's already released a collection of singles, which are expected to be on the album. A few include "Hotbox" and "Lean On My Body."
For this era of music, Nas has expressed that he's wanted to be "more himself than ever." He "only wants to do the things that [he] wants to do." Especially after years of being in the public spotlight and scrutiny, this definitely makes sense.
Recent legal proceedings have placed a pause on the album's production, but hopefully only temporarily. We will be paying attention to the direction Nas decides to take after his arrest, both personally and creatively.
Photo by: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
