In an Aug. 29 interview with The Sunday Times, Lil Nas X’s father opened up about his son’s emotional breakdown and recent arrest, making it clear that the pressure of fame—not drugs—was the breaking point.
Lil Nas X’s Arrest and Breakdown
As previously reported, the two-time Grammy-winning musician was arrested on Aug. 21 in Los Angeles after being spotted dancing naked in the street. The situation escalated when he got into a confrontation with a police officer. He was hospitalized for evaluation, then booked and charged with four felonies after allegedly injuring officers during the arrest.
His father, Robert Stafford, stressed that drugs were not a factor in his son’s public meltdown. Instead, he believes the intense pressure of sustaining career success, being a provider, and worrying about his mother’s addiction struggles played a role.
“I understand how the music business is,” Stafford told the publication. “It’s like a high. When you get to that level, you want that drug again, you want to hit that high again.”
Stafford said seeing his son behind bars broke him down. Looking through the jail glass, he admitted he “couldn’t do anything but cry.”
A Father’s Heartbreak
“To see my baby boy on the other side of that glass. We shed tears with each other for a minute,” Stafford said. “And I had to tell him that ‘what you’re going through is normal’. We all have breakdowns every now and then, but the difference is, yours get played out in the public eye.”
He continued,
“For a 26-year-old to have to deal with what he’s dealing with — to be a breadwinner for a lot of people, the inability to change his mother’s situation and the pressure he puts on himself…”
Stafford revealed that despite his struggles, Lil Nas X was remorseful about the public nature of the breakdown.
“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.”
Faith, Pressure, and Hope
Stafford believes this moment could be a turning point for his son’s mental health. “Sometimes God will take you through your worst moment to give you your best moment,” he said.
What Has Lil Nas X Said So Far?
Since his release after posting bail, Lil Nas X briefly addressed fans on social media. He reassured supporters that he was “gonna be OK,” according to NBC News.
While short, the message gave fans some relief, showing that the rapper is aware of the concern surrounding him. Still, many hope he takes time to heal and reset after such a public low point.