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Lil Nas X Faces Life on Extreme Hard Mode

Lil Nas X argued he is living life on 'extreme hard mode' being black, gay and bipolar - two months after he was spared jail in favor of a mental health diversi...

Bintano News

June 18, 2026

Lil Nas X argued he is living life on 'extreme hard mode' being black, gay and bipolar - two months after he was spared jail in favor of a mental health diversion program, over his bizarre arrest while wandering the streets in his underwear.

According to prosecutors, his encounter with police last August quickly turned chaotic, with Lil Nas X accused of .

The rapper - whose real name is Montero Hill - denied the claims, pleading not guilty to the charges, including battery on an officer and resisting arrest.

Judge Alan Schneider took mercy on him this April, ruling that the Old Town Road hitmaker could undergo treatment rather than spending time behind bars.

The judge told the court the August drama was 'aberrant from his normal conduct,' linking it to Hill's .

This week, after emerging from a stint in rehab, Hill shared a life update and bared his soul about his struggle to accept the fact of his illness.

Lil Nas X argued he is living life on 'extreme hard mode' being black, gay, bipolar - two months after he was spared jail in favor of a mental health program; pictured in court in March

Lil Nas X burst onto the music scene in 2018 when his genre-blending hit Old Town Road went viral, eventually leading to a high-profile collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus on the track

'I've been in rehab for a few months,' he said in a video posted to his social media: 'and since then I've been back at home - whether it's in Atlanta with my family or in Los Angeles with myself and friends and whatnot - and trying to ground myself down to earth and get out of my head.'

Hill added: 'I have a therapist now and a psychiatrist, which has been really helpful. When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn't wanna admit to it, 'cause I didn't wanna have to take medication and have people think different of me.'

The 26-year-old Old Town Road hitmaker showed up in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, where Judge Alan Schneider said the singer 'appears to be doing very well'

It was also around this time that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, shedding new light on his erratic behavior that night.

In a surprise twist during a court appearance in April, Judge Schneider gave Hill a lifeline, granting him entry into a mental health diversion program.

As long as Hill stays on top of his treatment and keeps his nose clean for the next two years, the case will be dismissed, Rolling Stone reported.

'When treated, he is much better off, and society is much better off,' Schneider remarked.

He added that Hill could still face up to five years in prison if things don’t go according to plan.

'I'm thankful. Just very thankful,' the star - real name Montero Hill - told Rolling Stone magazine after the hearing, adding, 'It could have been much worse'

Hill’s defense lawyer Christy O’Connor told the court that the Grammy winner had spent nearly two months in inpatient care at The Meadows in Arizona, where he had been 'absolutely successful' in his treatment after voluntarily checking in.

The star was last seen in public back in March, when he told reporters he couldn't wait to be reunited with his fans and give them a hug.

'All I wanted to say is to my fans, I really love and I miss you, and I appreciate your support so much,' he shared with Rolling Stone.

His father Robert Stafford opened up to The Sunday Times in September about visiting his son in jail, recalling how they both 'shed tears.'

'We all have breakdowns every now and then, but the difference is, yours get played out in the public eye,' Stafford said.

'When I went to visit, he asked me to say, "Tell everybody I’m sorry they saw me like that." Even in that moment, he was apologizing to people for something he was going through.'

On August 26, Hill made his first statement to his fans after spending multiple days in jail.

In a video posted to his Instagram Stories, the singer said the four days he spent behind bars were 'terrifying.'

On August 26, Hill made his first statement to his fans after spending multiple days in jail

But he also offered a message of hope to his 10.3 million followers, saying he was 'going to be all right.'

Lil Nas X burst onto the music scene in 2018 when his genre-blending hit Old Town Road went viral, eventually .

Since then, the chart-topping artist has teamed up with big names like Cardi B, DaBaby, and Jack Harlow.

A source told the Daily Mail at the time of his arrest that the rapper may have fallen in with the wrong crowd while grappling with the pressures of sudden fame and fortune over the past seven years.

'Nas doesn’t feel that he can trust many people from his past,' the source said.

'They tried to exploit him financially - but some of those people suspect his new friends can’t be trusted either.'

The source went on to add that the star had been 'been hanging around some seedy characters in LA who some people suspect have been leeching off him and living in his house.'

According to the insider, the star’s family was now stepping in to offer their support following the incident.

Lil Nas X Faces Life on Extreme Hard Mode

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