Grammy Award-winner Lil Nas X, 27, recently shared a series of reassuring posts on Instagram following his release from a rehabilitation facility. The artist, whose real name is Montero Hill, joked about his uncertainty regarding what to post, given his fans' supportive reactions to his current journey.
"Ever since I got out of rehab, everyone's like 'OD' nice to me," Hill said in a video, referencing his past overdose. "I could be like 'hey' and everyone's like 'oh he's so brave'. I can try to post a thirst trap on my Instagram story and everyone's going to be like 'keep fighting king'."
He also marked a personal milestone, sharing a video of himself holding a cake that read '10,000th day.' "Tomorrow is my 10,000th day alive and I made it," he stated. "A lot of you won't make it, but I made it."
Hill has been open about his struggles, previously stating in June that he is living life on "extreme hard mode" as a Black, gay, and bipolar individual. This statement came two months after he was spared jail time in favor of a mental health diversion program, following an arrest last August.
Prosecutors alleged that during the August incident, Hill engaged in an encounter with Los Angeles police that turned chaotic, including accusations of using "force and violence [to] inflict an injury" on three officers. Hill denied the charges, which included battery on an officer and resisting arrest. In April, Judge Alan Schneider ruled that Hill could undergo treatment instead of serving jail time, noting that the August incident was "aberrant from his normal conduct" and linked it to his bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Following his recent stint in rehab, Hill provided a life update, discussing his efforts to ground himself and accept his diagnosis. "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 wanna admit to it, 'cause I didn't wanna have to take medication and have people think different of me."
Despite his challenges, Hill assured fans he is "doing much better" and hinted at working on "new music." He expressed gratitude to his fanbase, the 'Montourage,' for their continued loyalty.
The diversion program requires Hill to remain on track with his treatment and avoid legal trouble for two years. If successful, the case will be dismissed. However, failure to comply could result in a potential five-year prison sentence.
Hill's erratic behavior leading to his arrest reportedly followed fears he may have overdosed. His bipolar disorder diagnosis shed new light on the incident. His defense lawyer, Christy O’Connor, stated that Hill had successfully completed nearly two months of inpatient care at The Meadows in Arizona.
Lil Nas X rose to prominence in 2018 with his hit song "Old Town Road," which led to a collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus. Since then, he has worked with artists such as Cardi B, DaBaby, and Jack Harlow.