Lil Nas X’s father, Robert Stafford, has shared a heartfelt update following the rapper’s recent mental health crisis and arrest in Los Angeles.
LIL NAS X’S MENTAL BREAKDOWN
In a moving interview, Stafford described the moment he saw his son behind bars.“I went to visit him in jail, and as soon as I walked through that door, I couldn’t do anything but cry,” Stafford revealed.
“To see my baby boy on the other side of that glass, we shed tears with each other for a minute.”
The Grammy-winning artist, born Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested in the early hours of 21 August. He reportedly stripped down to just white underwear and cowboy boots on Ventura Boulevard, according to Page Six.
LIL NAS X’S FELONY CHARGES
Footage showed him singing Nicki Minaj’s lyrics from Kanye West’s Monster and placing a traffic cone on his head.
Police intervened after witnesses alerted them to his behaviour. Authorities say Lil Nas X “charged” at officers attempting to detain him.
He was arrested and faced four felony charges, including resisting an executive officer and battery with injury on a police officer.
The rapper posted bail equivalent to roughly R1.5 million after spending a weekend in jail and pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered him to attend rehab meetings, which he agreed to.
LIL NAS X’S REMORSE OVER INCIDENT
Stafford said his son expressed deep remorse over the incident. “When I went to visit, he asked me to say, ‘Tell everybody I’m sorry they saw me like that,’” he said.
“Even in that moment, he was apologising to people for something he was going through.”
The rapper later described the ordeal on social media as “f–king terrifying” but reassured fans, “But your girl’s gonna be alright.”
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
This raw family moment highlights the pressures public figures face, especially with mental health challenges exposed in the spotlight.
Fans will no doubt empathise with Stafford’s words: “What you’re going through is normal. We all have breakdowns every now and then, but the difference is, yours played out in the public eye.”
As Lil Nas X embarks on his path to recovery, his story serves as a reminder of the humanity behind fame and the importance of mental health support everywhere.
WHAT ROLE DOES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PLAY IN REDUCING STIGMA IN SOUTH AFRICA?
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