Lead

Lil Nas X has said he is "doing much better" and feels "less fear in my heart" after a mental health episode that culminated in his arrest last August. In a moving, three-minute video posted to Instagram, the pop star shared that he had "been in rehab for a few months" and has since returned home to Atlanta to be with his family, according to BBC and The Guardian.

The Grammy Award-winning artist, born Montero Lamar Hill, also publicly discussed his bipolar disorder diagnosis for the first time, saying he has a therapist and a psychiatrist and is creating new music.

Coverage Comparison

The BBC and The Guardian both reported on Lil Nas X's Instagram update, focusing on his mental health journey and his recent diagnosis. The BBC's coverage emphasized the musician's emotional statement and his upcoming performance at Glastonbury, where Elton John hand-picked him to perform on the Pyramid Stage. The Guardian's report included additional details about his legal troubles, noting that he was charged with attacking Los Angeles police officers and that he entered a mental health diversion program.

Both outlets quoted directly from Lil Nas X's video statement, including his admission that he had known about his diagnosis for years but had avoided acknowledging it. The Guardian also provided context on bipolar disorder, describing it as a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.

The tone across both reports was supportive and informative, with neither outlet framing the story negatively. The BBC described the video as "earnest and moving," while The Guardian called it "moving" and quoted Lil Nas X describing his previous reluctance to accept his diagnosis.

Key Claims

  • Lil Nas X posted a video update on Instagram in which he shared that he had been in rehab for a few months (reported by both BBC and The Guardian).
  • He was charged with attacking Los Angeles police officers, an event that led to his arrest last August (reported by The Guardian).
  • He entered a mental health diversion program intended to lead to the charges being dismissed (reported by The Guardian).
  • He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which the court determined was related to his behavior at the time of his arrest (reported by both outlets).
  • He now has a therapist and a psychiatrist, which he says has been helpful (reported by both outlets).
  • He is creating new music and said "there is new music on the way" (reported by both outlets).
  • Elton John hand-picked him to perform at Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage (reported by BBC).
In the video, Lil Nas X said, "I feel like I had known for like the past few years, but I didn't want to admit to it because I didn't want to have to take medication and, I don't know, have people think different of me." He also joked about his identity, saying, "I'm already black and gay, like, damn, God. Gay, bipolar, like I'm living life on extreme hard mode."

He closed with a message to fans: "I love you and all I want to do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud."

Lil Nas X, best known for his breakout hit "Old Town Road," which spent a record 19 weeks at number one on the US charts and won him two Grammys, has been quiet on social media for an extended period. His return includes a visible improvement in his health, with both outlets noting he looked healthy and addressed the camera against a clear blue sky.