Lil Nas X‘s father is coming to his son’s defense, saying the rapper’s very public meltdown while walking naked in Los Angeles is due to the immense pressures of the music business, according to a new report.

Robert Stafford sat down with The Sunday Times for his first interview since Nas bailed out of L.A. County jail last Monday — and he directly addressed his son’s “breakdown,” which he blames on the entertainment industry.

Stafford says he understands how the music biz works as a gospel singer and warns … “It’s like a high. When you get to that level, you want that drug again, you want to hit that high again.”

Stafford also claims Nas is dealing with all the pressures of trying to keep up with his early success as an artist, winning 2 Grammy Awards and other accolades.

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Lil Nas X’s father, Robert Stafford, is speaking out for the first time after his son’s shocking public breakdown, saying the rapper’s recent troubles are rooted in the crushing weight of fame and the unforgiving demands of the music industry.

In a candid interview with The Sunday Times, Stafford opened up about watching his son unravel under the glare of the spotlight. He said the pressures of maintaining Nas’s meteoric rise — which saw him skyrocket to fame with “Old Town Road,” win two Grammy Awards, and cement himself as one of pop music’s boldest figures — have taken a heavy toll.

“As a gospel singer, I know how this business works,” Stafford explained. “It’s like a high. When you get to that level, you want that drug again, you want to hit that high again.” He suggested that Nas, despite his larger-than-life persona, is still a young man navigating an industry that often chews people up and spits them out.

Beyond the expectations of fame, Stafford revealed the immense personal responsibilities his son shoulders. Nas, he said, has become the primary breadwinner for his family while also coping with the pain of his mother’s ongoing struggles with addiction. These pressures, Stafford believes, have compounded the emotional burden Nas faces daily.

Describing his jailhouse visit with his son last week, Stafford recalled a deeply emotional scene. “To see my baby boy on the other side of that glass … we shed tears with each other for a minute,” he said. “I had to tell him that what you’re going through is normal.” His words were both a father’s comfort and a sobering acknowledgment of the toll the entertainment machine exacts on its stars.

The fallout stems from a disturbing incident on August 21, when Nas was filmed walking completely naked through the streets of Los Angeles in the early morning hours. Witnesses say the rapper appeared erratic before police arrived. According to authorities, Nas resisted arrest and allegedly assaulted three officers in the process. He was taken into custody and charged with four felony counts, including battery with injury on a police officer.

Nas was released later that day after posting $75,000 bail, but the case continues to dominate headlines. To fans, the images of the 25-year-old strutting unclothed in public were shocking. To Stafford, they were heartbreaking — a very public cry for help from a son who has carried far too much, far too quickly.

While the legal process plays out, Stafford is determined to remind the world that behind the spectacle is a human being struggling to cope. “He’s under a lot of pressure,” he said, adding that what Nas needs most right now isn’t judgment but compassion.

For Stafford, the hope is that this breakdown will mark a turning point — not just in how the public perceives his son, but in how the industry cares for its brightest, most vulnerable stars.

As we first reported … Nas was caught on camera sashaying naked down an L.A. street in the wee hours of August 21. Nas then allegedly assaulted 3 police officers who were trying to take him into custody after receiving a report of a man possibly on drugs.

Prosecutors charged Nas with 4 felonies, including battery with injury on a police officer. Nas was released from jail on $75,000 bail.