Lil Nas X shares video from hospital after losing control of half his face and jokes with fans while also sparking concern about his health.
Lil Nas X is keeping his humor intact while facing a scary health scare. The “Old Town Road” rapper revealed on Instagram that he’s suffering from partial facial paralysis, posting a video from his hospital bed where he struggles to smile and tells fans, “Bro, I can’t even laugh right.” While he didn’t name a specific diagnosis, the 26-year-old music star’s candid updates have prompted an outpouring of support—and plenty of speculation about what might be causing the sudden condition.
On Monday, the “Montero” hitmaker posted a video from his hospital bed, telling his 10.4 million Instagram followers that he’s experiencing partial facial paralysis. “This is me doing a full smile right now, by the way,” he said in the clip, attempting—and failing—to grin. “Bro, I can’t even laugh right.”
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In another update, Lil Nas X tried to ease fan fears, saying, “I’m OK,” and adding, “Shake ur ass for me instead!” He followed that with a third post, writing, “I’mma look funny for a lil bit but that’s it,” showing his signature mix of honesty and humor.
The rapper also posted a video jokingly panning the camera across his face. “We normal over here, we get crazy over here!” he said, showing how one side remained expressive while the other appeared frozen.
Celebs were quick to flood the comments with love. Taraji P. Henson wrote, “Get well baby,” while Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson added, “Sending you love.” Comedian Wanda Sykes offered words of wisdom: “Sometimes your body tells you to sit down somewhere. Rest up.”
Although Lil Nas X hasn’t confirmed the cause of his symptoms, fans and followers have speculated that it could be Bell’s Palsy—a condition that causes sudden weakness in facial muscles—or Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which gained more attention after Justin Bieber canceled tour dates in 2022 due to the condition.
Both illnesses are typically temporary and often triggered by stress or infections. Bieber eventually made a full recovery, and other stars, like musician Tulisa Contostavlos, have also spoken publicly about their battles with similar conditions.
The health scare comes just as Lil Nas X has been teasing his upcoming music. He recently released his eight-track EP Days Before Dreamboy, a prelude to the much-anticipated follow-up to his 2021 debut, “Montero.”
In a candid interview with Atlanta’s Hot 107.9, he described the emotional toll the past year has taken. “At the top of 2024… I feel like I was very lost and trying to cater to everybody except myself,” he said, noting how he was trying to be “outrageous all the time” rather than just authentic.
Speaking at the GLAAD Awards last month, Lil Nas X even revealed he passed on a chance to collaborate with Taylor Swift. “She offered to let me try a verse on something,” he told E! News, “but I couldn’t catch a vibe for it, so it didn’t happen.”
While he continues to heal, fans are showing up with love and support—and eagerly waiting for him to get back to full strength, flashing that famous smile for real this time.
