From heartbreaking losses to near-death experiences, Post Malone faced it all — until fatherhood gave him a reason to live. Inside the terrifying moments, public scrutiny, and private battles that nearly broke him, and the daughter who helped him heal.
With diamond records and sold-out arenas, Post Malone seemed unstoppable. But beyond the bright lights, screaming fans, and flashing cameras, the artist’s rise to stardom and the years that followed came with devastating losses, personal struggles, and terrifying close calls.
Post Malone at the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
From being branded a culture vulture to surviving a jet malfunction and a violent car crash — both within the same year — his journey was anything but smooth. However, becoming a father didn’t just change his life — it saved it.
The Tragedies That Shaped Post Malone’s Darkest Years
Austin Richard Post, better known as Post Malone, made a name for himself by blending hip-hop, rock, and country influences into a string of massive hits.
Known for chart-toppers like “Rockstar” and “Circles,” the Texas-born artist became one of the most recognizable figures in music, building a fan base as passionate as his melodies.
But behind the face tattoos and genre-defying tracks, Post Malone endured a series of personal struggles, tragedies, and near-death experiences that cast a shadow over his rapid rise to fame.
When his song “White Iverson” dropped in 2015 and quickly went viral, Post Malone was immediately thrust into the spotlight — but not without backlash.
Post Malone performing during Power106 Cali Christmas at The Forum on December 4, 2015, in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Critics dismissed him as a one-hit wonder, and some accused him of being a culture vulture. Reflecting on that time, he admitted it “sucked” and said he drank “a lot” and “absolutely” took the criticism personally.
The sudden success came with a cost, and the weight of public scrutiny never fully left him. Then, in the years he tried to navigate the pressure and prove himself in the industry, tragedy struck.
In 2017, he suffered the loss of fellow artist Lil Peep, who died at just 21 years old. Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Post Malone spoke openly about the impression Lil Peep left on him. He wrote in a tribute shared with Billboard:
“In the short time that I knew you, you were a great friend to me and a great person. Your music changed the world and it’ll never be the same. I love you bud. Forever.”
Lil Peep at the Haider Ackermann Menswear Spring/Summer 2018 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2017, in France. | Source: Getty Images
On X, he summed up the grief bluntly by saying he wanted to cry. Post Malone later honored Lil Peep with a tattoo — an inked portrait of the late rapper etched into his arm as a permanent reminder. He believed the late star’s music was going to shift the entire cultural landscape and described him as “an incredible guy.”
The following year brought another loss. Mac Miller’s death in September 2018 hit the “White Iverson” singer hard. Just days after he passed, Post Malone shared a chilling moment that happened while he was staying in Los Angeles.
“Like a day, two days after he died, we’re at an Airbnb in LA, and all of a sudden the TV turns on and it wouldn’t stop. We tried disconnecting it and all this and then we turned it off and then it came back on,” he recalled.
Mac Miller performing during the second day of Lollapalooza Brazil Festival at Interlagos Racetrack on March 24, 2018, in Sao Paulo. | Source: Getty Images
Remarkably, just two weeks after the emergency landing, the rapper was involved in another serious incident.
“I was like, ‘This is weird,’ and it gives me chills. […] Honestly, what a genuine human being,” the rapper added. Following Mac Miller’s death, the “Congratulations” singer was seen wearing a shirt that read “RIP Mac Miller,” a touching tribute to another friend gone too soon.
But emotional trauma wasn’t the only hardship Post Malone faced in 2018. On August 21 of that year, he boarded a private jet in New Jersey, unaware it would soon become the centerpiece of a terrifying ordeal.
The plane, carrying 15 people, suffered a tire blowout on takeoff, forcing it to make an emergency landing. According to a later report by the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft had exceeded its maximum gross takeoff weight, and a service door had been left open.
When the plane attempted to take off again, the tires blew out a second time — triggering chaos on board. Post Malone, who has always had a fear of flying, explained that he usually tried to sleep through flights, but on this one, he couldn’t.
After a sensor malfunction forced the jet to turn around and land the first time, things took a frightening turn during the second attempt.
Post Malone at Seth Rogen’s Hilarity For Charity event at Hollywood Palladium on March 24, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
“We heard a big [expletive] pop,” he said, describing how debris began coming in from underneath the table. Panic quickly set in. He further recalled:
“You know, you figured if something is gonna happen, just get it over with, like a Band-Aid or something.”
Post Malone at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards official afterparty at Hakkasan Nightclub on May 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images
The rapper added that the worst part was the anxiety of not knowing what would happen next. Though some might have seen his reaction as dramatic, Post Malone pushed back, insisting that it was “scary.” “But, we made it!” he added.
Remarkably, just two weeks after the emergency landing, the rapper was involved in another serious incident. Around 3:30 a.m. in early September, his white Rolls-Royce collided with another vehicle on a Los Angeles highway, crashing through a fence.
Post Malone performs in support of his release “Beerbongs & Bentleys” at Shoreline Amphitheatre on June 24, 2018, in Mountain View, California. | Source: Getty Images
While several people were treated at the scene, no one was seriously injured. Police found no evidence of alcohol or drugs playing a role, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Coming so soon after the jet scare, the back-to-back accidents were too much to ignore. Post Malone later tweeted, “God must hate me lol.”
Years later, in 2022, tragedy nearly struck again.
Post Malone performing on Day 1 of Wireless Festival 2018 at Finsbury Park on July 6 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
The string of misfortune didn’t end there. Also in September, while Post Malone was no longer living in his former San Fernando Valley home, the property became the target of a violent robbery.
Around midnight, three armed men broke into the house, smashing a front window and pistol-whipping a resident. The intruders demanded to know, “Where’s Post Malone?!” before making off with approximately $20,000 worth of cash, jewelry, and phones.
Post Malone on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in 2018. | Source: Getty Images
Although the rapper hadn’t lived there in months, the assailants’ intent was clear. Police investigated possible ties between this break-in and another celebrity robbery that same night.
Years later, in 2022, tragedy nearly struck again. Post Malone was forced to cut a show short after an onstage accident saw him take a trip to the hospital. He later shared an apology video on X, addressing fans directly, explaining the situation, and assuring that he was fine.
Post Malone performing during his “Twelve Carat Toothache” tour at State Farm Arena on October 18, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
Each ordeal tested Post Malone’s resolve, compounding personal grief with very public brushes with death. But even as he faced back-to-back losses, freak accidents, and violent threats, he continued to show up — for his music, and eventually, for someone who would change everything.
Post Malone performing at Clive Davis’ and the Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala at The Beverly Hilton on February 1, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
A New Purpose – How Fatherhood Changed Everything
After years of personal loss, public scrutiny, and terrifying brushes with death, Post Malone found a new sense of direction in 2022. That May, the 26-year-old revealed he and his longtime girlfriend were expecting their first child.
Though he kept the identity of his child’s mother private at the time, the announcement marked a clear turning point. “I’m excited for this next chapter in my life, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and for since I could remember I was sad [sic],” he shared, adding:
“Time to take care of my body and my family and friends, and spread as much love as we can every day.”
Post Malone and his fiancée sharing a kiss at the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 15 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Sources close to Post Malone said the couple celebrated the baby-to-be with a private gathering for friends and family in Southern California that same weekend.
Months later, on October 3, 2022, the star got a new tattoo of his daughter’s initials inked on his forehead. Still, he maintained that he intended to keep her life private.
In an August 2024 interview, Post Malone opened up further, revealing just how deeply his daughter and her mother had impacted him.
“Yeah, I don’t — I want to let her make her own decisions,” he explained during an interview later that year. But becoming a father changed more than just how he viewed privacy. It transformed how he lived.
Post Malone photographed arriving at Radio City Music Hall on February 14, 2025, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
By April 2023, fans had begun speculating about his appearance, with many suggesting he was losing weight because of drugs. Post Malone quickly put the rumors to rest, reassuring netizens that he was sober and simply embracing a healthier lifestyle.
He explained on Instagram that becoming a father had motivated the change. “Dad life kicked in and I decided to kick soda, and start eating better so I can be around for a long time for this little angel,” he typed.
In an August 2024 interview, Post Malone opened up further, revealing just how deeply his daughter and her mother had impacted him. Cracking open a beer, he spoke candidly about the emotional weight of fatherhood.
“It changes your life in the best way ever,” he said. Reflecting on her mother, he added, “And the most beautiful thing is she has a beautiful mom.”
Asked if his daughter had saved his life, the rapper didn’t hesitate, stating, “That’s true. Yeah, that’s true. Her and her mom.” He described the years before her birth as dark and aimless, admitting, “Four years ago I was on a rough path.”
Despite his commercial success, he was battling overwhelming loneliness. However, in the end, through grief, fear, and personal struggles, Post Malone endured more than most at the height of his fame. But fatherhood gave him the clarity and purpose he’d long been missing.
