Rapper Lil Nas X has spoken publicly following his arrest in Los Angeles, where he was charged with four felony counts.
The 25-year-old artist, whose real name is Montero Hill, was taken into custody early Thursday after police responded to calls of a nude man acting erratically in Studio City.
According to authorities, Lil Nas X allegedly assaulted police officers during the incident. He now faces three counts of battery against a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. After being held at a Van Nuys jail over the weekend, he appeared in court on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty. Bail was set at $75,000, which he has since posted. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for September 15. If convicted, the musician could face up to five years in prison.
Following his release, Lil Nas X addressed fans on Instagram Stories. “Your girl is going to be OK, y’all… that was terrifying,” he said, describing the arrest as a difficult experience but reassuring supporters of his well-being.
Footage obtained by TMZ showed the Grammy-winning rapper wandering the streets in underwear and cowboy boots before later appearing fully nude and rapping lyrics from Nicki Minaj’s “Monster.” Police transferred him to a hospital at the time on suspicion of a possible overdose.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman released a statement stressing that assaults on law enforcement “pose a direct threat to public safety” and that all individuals, regardless of fame, will be held accountable under the law.
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