Kanye West Hospitalized Under Psychiatric Hold
Kanye West was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation in Los Angeles tonight, TMZ reports. This afternoon, following a tumultuous week including several high-profile rants, fashion-Instagram diarrhea, and the cancellation of the remainder of the Saint Pablo tour, LA police responded to a call about a disturbance at the home of his trainer, Harley Pasternak. “When they arrived it was clear that nothing criminal was occurring and it was a medical situation instead,” according to AP, and paramedics were brought in. West did not want to go and was handcuffed to a gurney as he was taken in an ambulance to the hospital and placed on a psychiatric hold. Sources connected to the rapper tell TMZ he was getting checked out by one of his doctors for severe sleep deprivation when someone, possibly the physician, decided he needed to be admitted “for his own health and safety.” He remains under observation at UCLA Medical Center.
UPDATE: TMZ reports that West’s personal physician, Dr. Michael Farzam, made the call to 911, telling dispatchers that West “suffers from temporary psychosis due to sleep deprivation and dehydration.” Farzam also said West attempted to assault a staff member at the gym. Farzam identified West as “Jim Jones, 39 years old, 5’8″, 175 lbs.” TMZ received conflicting information as to whether Farzam placed West on a 5150 psychiatric hold.