Lil Nas X Reveals Facial Paralysis in Honest Instagram Update: “I Can’t Even Laugh Right”

Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X offered a candid health update on Monday, revealing that half of his face has become paralyzed.

By Lena Whitmore

staff writer

April 15, 2025

Sharing a video from a hospital bed, the 26-year-old remained composed and characteristically humorous as he explained the situation to fans.

In a selfie video posted to Instagram Stories, the “Old Town Road” and “Industry Baby” hitmaker demonstrated how the right side of his face had lost mobility. “This is me doing a full smile right now,” he said, showing a lopsided grin and noticeably uneven eyes.

“It’s like, what the f—? I can’t even laugh right, bro,” he added with a chuckle, making light of the moment. “What the f—! Oh my God.”

Though Lil Nas X—born Montero Lamar Hill—did not share a formal diagnosis or cause for the facial paralysis, he continued addressing the condition throughout a series of Instagram stories. Reassuring his followers, he said, “Stop being sad for me!” and, in true Lil Nas X fashion, urged them instead to “shake ur a— for me.”

Remaining upbeat despite the circumstances, he joked in one story, “I’ll just look funny for a lil bit but that’s it.”

On Tuesday morning, the rapper continued to update fans with additional videos. In one, he humorously accused his cat of mocking his appearance. In another, he expressed optimism, saying he felt his face was “already getting better.” He later shared footage of himself roller skating outdoors under the sun.

“It’s getting better, y’all, I promise,” he said. “It’s gonna take a lot more than that to keep a bad b— down. This eye wonky, b—, but I’m not.”

As of Tuesday, representatives for the artist had not responded to media inquiries regarding his condition.

This recent health scare comes shortly after Lil Nas X opened up in a Paper interview about the challenges of being an openly gay artist, particularly in the context of the United States’ current sociopolitical climate. Reflecting on his controversial 2021 “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video—which depicted a symbolic descent into hell followed by a lap dance for Satan—he noted that releasing it today might provoke even more intense backlash.

“Even right now, everything with young males being taught these super conservative ways... everything is shifting with this rebellious, hyper-masculine thing,” he said. “I feel like if I released ‘Montero’ now, they’d actually try to kill me.”

Despite these concerns, he remains hopeful. “I’m not trying to minimize what’s happening. I just think s— is going to work itself out, especially in the generation where everything is a trend,” he added. “The second the next thing comes along, it will be like, ‘Hey, we don’t hate women and gay people anymore. Let’s do something else now.’”

Since sharing the news, Lil Nas X has received an outpouring of love and support from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Comedian Loni Love, Pose stars Ryan Jamaal Swain and Dominique Jackson, and playwright Jeremy O. Harris were among those sending well-wishes in the comments of his Instagram post.