Lil Nas X arrested after nearly naked nighttime stroll in LA

A nearly naked Lil Nas X was picked up by police Thursday after being found wandering through Los Angeles in just his underwear and a pair of white cowboy boots.

Video posted on TMZ appeared to show the "Old Town Road" artist almost in the buff as he strutted down a major thoroughfare in the city.

The rapper repeatedly addressed the passerby taking the video, urging them: "Don't be late to the party tonight."

It was not clear which party he was referring to or where he was headed, as he walked along the center median of the near-empty street.

At one point he asked the person filming -- who was apparently sitting in a car -- to hand over the phone so he can throw it away.

"I wanna throw it far away so you never see it again. I don't like phones."

"Didn't I tell you to put the phone down? Uh-oh, somebody's gonna have to pay for that," he said as he theatrically wagged his finger.

A spokesman for Los Angeles Police Department told AFP that officers had been called to the Studio City area just before dawn.

"There was a nude man walking in the street," the spokesman said.

"Upon arrival the suspect charged at officers. He was taken into custody and taken to a local hospital for a possible overdose and placed under arrest for battery on a police officer."

The spokesman said he was unable to provide the identity of the man.

Photos published by TMZ appear to show the flamboyant star putting a traffic cone on his head.

There was no immediate comment from Lil Nas X or his representatives. — Agence France-Presse