Lil Nas X gave fans a major scare Monday night after revealing he’d been hospitalized with what he called a mystery illness affecting the right side of his face.
The 26-year-old 'Old Town Road' rapper shared an Instagram video from his hospital bed, attempting to smile—but only one side of his mouth responded.
“Soooo lost control of the right side of my face,” he captioned the post.
In the clip, Nas—whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill—appeared in relatively good spirits, laughing as he struggled to move his facial muscles.
“And when I smile, this is me doing a full smile right now, by the way,” he said in the video. “It’s like, what the f**k, bro? I can’t even laugh right, bro. What the f**k. Oh my God, oh my God, bro.”
Though the rapper didn’t disclose what caused the sudden paralysis, he later took to his Instagram Stories to assure fans he’s doing alright.
“Guys I am OK!! Stop being sad for me! Shake ur a** for me instead!” he wrote.
He added in another post, “might look funny for a lil bit but that’s it.”
Nas didn’t say when he expects to be released from the hospital and hasn’t shared any diagnosis.
Based on the symptoms Lil Nas X described—sudden loss of control on one side of his face—his condition may be consistent with Bell’s palsy. Bell’s palsy is a temporary facial paralysis or weakness caused by inflammation of the facial nerve, often linked to viral infections. It usually affects just one side of the face and can develop rapidly. While it can look alarming, most people recover fully with or without treatment.
Other possibilities could include neurological conditions such as a minor stroke or Lyme disease, though these would typically require further medical evaluation to confirm.
Several celebrities chimed in with messages of love and support as the video made its rounds.
“Get well baby,” Taraji P. Henson wrote.
Wanda Sykes added, “Get well love. Sometimes your body tells you to sit down somewhere. Rest up.”
Niecy Nash commented, “Wishing you a speedy recovery (this happened to my mom. Hot compress several times a day helps wonders )”
Maren Morris also sent love, writing, “omg get better soon!”
While fans were shaken by the news, Nas’ humor and lighthearted attitude reminded them he’s still very much himself—even if his smile needs a minute to catch up.