Award-winning musician Lil Nas X has revealed that he recently spent several months in rehabilitation, opening up about his mental health journey and recovery in an emotional video shared on Instagram.
The rapper and singer, born Montero Lamar Hill, said he has since returned to Atlanta, where his family lives, and Los Angeles, where he resides.
In the nearly three-minute video, he reflected on his progress and the importance of seeking professional help.
“I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful,” he said. “When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn’t want to admit it because I didn’t want to have to take medication and, I don’t know, have people think differently of me.”
The 27-year-old said he is now in a much better place, adding humorously that he has been “living life on extreme hard mode.”
His comments come months after a judge approved his entry into a mental health diversion programme. The court determined that an incident involving police was linked to his recently diagnosed bipolar disorder and was inconsistent with his typical behaviour. The programme could eventually lead to the dismissal of charges against him.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by significant shifts in mood, energy and activity levels, ranging from manic episodes marked by elevated or irritable moods to periods of depression and hopelessness.
According to The Guardian, authorities had alleged that Lil Nas X was walking nearly nude on a street in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley before confronting responding police officers.
A criminal complaint states that three officers sustained injuries during the encounter.
Following the incident, he spent three days in jail before being released on approximately Sh9.7 million bail, on condition that he attends treatment. He later pleaded not guilty to three counts of battery causing injury to a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.
Despite the challenges, the artist said his music career remains a priority. “I’ve been doing music for seven years now,” he said. “I wanted to let you guys know there is new music on the way.”
Lil Nas X rose to global fame with chart-topping hits and his debut album Montero, which earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. His other major hits include Industry Baby and Montero (Call Me by Your Name).