Lil Nas X has been accepted into a mental health diversion programme, giving him a route to having assault charges cleared.
The “Old Town Road” star appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, where a judge found his behaviour during his August arrest — when he was accused of battering police officers — was “aberrant from his normal conduct”, according to Rolling Stone.
Under the arrangement, the case will be dismissed if the gay musician completes a two-year treatment programme and avoids possessing weapons or making threats of violence during that period.
“When treated, he is much better off, and society is much better off,” Judge Alan Schneider said of Lil Nas X, adding that he “appears to be doing very well”.
After the hearing, Lil Nas X told Rolling Stone: “I’m thankful. Just very thankful. It could have been much worse.”
The 26-year-old also told reporters he was “just going through the flow of life”.
“I’m here, baby,” he added when asked about the treatment programme.
The “Montero” rapper was arrested on 21 August 2025 after he was filmed walking in traffic on Ventura Boulevard wearing only his underwear. Prosecutors later alleged that Lil Nas X assaulted three police officers who were attempting to take him into custody.
He pleaded not guilty and had been facing the possibility of up to five years in prison.
At Monday’s hearing, his lawyer said Lil Nas X had voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation facility in Arizona after the “humiliating” incident, where he received nearly two months of inpatient care. She added that he has since been following a “pretty rigorous mental health regimen”.
