Wait, did you see that video? The one where Lil Nas X—the guy who literally rode "Old Town Road" into the history books—couldn't even crack a smile?
It was April 2025. People were scrolling through Instagram like any other Monday night when Montero Lamar Hill dropped a clip that made everyone stop. He wasn't trolling. He wasn't wearing a giant costume or promoting a new "Satan shoe." He was in a hospital bed.
He looked into the camera and tried to smile. Only the left side of his face moved. The right side? Totally frozen. "This is me doing a full smile right now by the way," he told his 10 million followers. It was jarring.
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The Hospital Visit That Set the Internet on Fire
It’s one thing to see a celebrity deal with a scandal. It’s another to see them lose control of their own body. Lil Nas X was surprisingly chill about the whole thing, which is on brand for him, but you could tell he was genuinely weirded out.
He captioning the video: "Soooo lost control of the right side of my face."
He couldn't laugh. He couldn't wink. He basically looked like he was glitching in real life. Naturally, the comment section turned into a medical board meeting within minutes. People were throwing out everything from "he’s having a stroke" to "it’s the vaccines" to "it’s a publicity stunt for his new album Dreamboy."
The truth was a bit more medical and way less conspiratorial.
Was it Bell’s Palsy or Something Else?
While Montero didn't initially drop a specific medical term, the symptoms were a textbook case of Bell’s palsy.
For the uninitiated, Bell’s palsy is this random, annoying condition where the facial nerve—the one that tells your muscles to move so you can smile or frown—gets inflamed. It usually hits one side. It makes your face droop. It makes you look like you’ve had a permanent shot of Novocaine at the dentist.
How it differs from a stroke:
- The Eyebrow Test: With Bell’s palsy, you usually can’t wrinkle your forehead or raise your eyebrow on the affected side. With a stroke, you often still can.
- The Rest of the Body: A stroke usually comes with arm weakness or slurred speech. Lil Nas X was still talking fine (just looking "wonky," in his words).
A few days later, some outlets like BET reported he confirmed it was indeed Bell’s palsy. He started doing facial exercises—literally chewing a lot of gum and trying to "force" the muscles to wake up. By late April, he was posting updates saying he could give a "genuine smile" again.
The Justin Bieber Connection
You can’t talk about lil nas x facial paralysis without someone bringing up Justin Bieber. Remember back in 2022 when JB had to cancel his tour?
People kept comparing the two, but they aren't exactly the same. Bieber had Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. That’s caused by the shingles virus attacking the ear nerve. It’s way more painful and usually more serious than standard Bell’s palsy.
Lil Nas X seemed to dodge that bullet. He was back to his chaotic self pretty quickly, even joking on his Stories: "Imma look funny for a lil bit but that's it. Shake ur ass for me instead!"
Why This Health Scare Actually Mattered
Honestly, 2025 was a rough year for the rapper.
A few months after the facial paralysis thing cleared up, things got dark. By August, he was in the news for a much more alarming reason—an erratic episode on Ventura Boulevard that ended with a police confrontation and a "forced" hospitalization.
The facial paralysis might have been the first physical sign that the stress of the industry was catching up to him. Whether it was a viral infection or just pure exhaustion, it was a wake-up call. Bell’s palsy is often linked to a weakened immune system or high stress. When your body literally stops your face from working, it’s usually telling you to sit down.
What to Do if This Happens to You
If you wake up and half your face isn't responding, don't just post it on TikTok. Lil Nas X went to the ER, and you should too. Even if it's "just" Bell's palsy, you need to rule out a stroke immediately.
The standard recovery plan looks like this:
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- Corticosteroids: Most doctors (like those at the Mayo Clinic) will put you on a week of steroids to bring down the nerve swelling.
- Eye Care: If you can't close your eye (like Lil Nas X couldn't), you have to tape it shut at night or use heavy-duty drops. Scratched corneas are no joke.
- Patience: Most people see movement return in 2 to 3 weeks. Full recovery can take 3 to 6 months.
Lil Nas X’s experience reminded everyone that being young, rich, and famous doesn't make you immune to random neurological glitches. He handled it with humor, but the "wonky" face was a real moment of vulnerability in a career built on being untouchable.
If you're worried about your own symptoms, look for the "Bell’s Phenomenon"—when you try to close your eye and the eyeball rolls upward instead. It’s a classic sign. Get to a doctor within 72 hours for the best chance at a quick fix.
The rapper is doing fine now, but those hospital bed videos remain a stark reminder that health is the only thing that actually matters when the cameras are off.
Next Steps for You:
If you or someone you know is experiencing sudden facial weakness, seek emergency medical care immediately to rule out a stroke. If diagnosed with Bell's palsy, ask your doctor about starting a course of prednisone within the first 72 hours to maximize the chances of a full recovery. For those interested in the recovery process, look into facial physical therapy (mime exercises) to help retrain the muscles as the nerve heals.