Lil Nas X’s dad, Robert Stafford, has spoken out about the rapper’s arrest and denied that his son was using drugs before his run-in with police.
Stafford was stopped by reporters while leaving a courthouse in Van Nuys, California, on Monday, August 25, and asked whether Lil Nas X, 26, had taken any “illegal drugs” prior to his hospitalization and arrest last week.
“Absolutely not,” Stafford responded.
Stafford also said that his son, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, is “in good spirits” and doing “alright” days after he was found roaming the streets in his underwear and attempting to batter an officer when confronted on Thursday, August 21. Lil Nas X was transferred by police to a hospital for treatment. Once released, he was charged and booked.
Lil Nas X has hired a powerhouse attorney to represent him in court after he was hit with felony charges related to his recent arrest, Us Weekly can report. Over the weekend, lawyer Drew Findling visited Lil Nas X (real name: Montero Hill) at the Los Angeles County Jail, where he has been in custody […]
The L.A. County District Attorney charged the “Industry Baby” rapper with four felonies, including three counts of battery on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest, according to NBC News. Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty.
“He’s very remorseful for what happened, but it can happen to any family. He’s going to get the help that he needs,” Stafford told reporters. “And just keep him in your prayers. Give him the same grace and mercy that God gives everyone.”
Stafford added that Lil Nas X is “doing great mentally” and said that their first conversation since his arrest was “awesome.”
“We shed tears, we shed laughter, but he’s in great spirits,” he continued, later adding, “Keep praying for him.”
Robert Stafford APEX / MEGA
Lil Nas X’s bond has been set at $75,000, attorney Drew Findling confirmed outside the courthouse.
“He’ll make that bond. He’ll be out today,” Findling said.
Lil Nas X was ordered to attend four Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week, and the judge set his pretrial date for September 15.
“We’re doing our due diligence to address everything we can about this young man,” Findling continued. “I mean, obviously, Mr. Hill has an amazing career, 26 years old, never been in trouble a split second his life, as [attorney] Christy [O’Connor] so eloquently stated in court, and so we’re just going to address everything.”
Lil Nas X Frederic J. Brown-Pool/Getty Images
Findling added that Lil Nas X’s legal team would “jump on this as quickly as possible.”
When asked “what happened” with Lil Nas X, Findling said, “Don’t forget he’s 26 years old, so it’s not unusual for something like this to happen. Particularly when you have the pressure of being recognized internationally like him, and so we’re going to do our best to address these things, and the best way to do that is just get the team and surround him with a team of people. … You can see how much his dad cares and his family cares … and we’re just getting this outpouring of love and support for him.”
