American singer and reality TV star Ray J has been admitted to a hospital in Las Vegas and is being treated for pneumonia, according to reports from entertainment outlet TMZ. The 44-year-old, whose full name is William Ray Norwood Jr., was hospitalised on Tuesday.
Health Scare and Medical Tests
This marks the second time in just over four years that the One Wish performer has faced a serious bout of the lung infection. A source informed TMZ that prior to his admission, Ray J had been suffering from chest pains. Since entering the medical facility, he has undergone diagnostic procedures including X-rays and an echocardiogram. The results of these tests are currently awaited.
Ray J was previously hospitalised with pneumonia in October 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. On that occasion, his condition was severe enough to require supplemental oxygen and an inhaler to aid his breathing. He spent more than a week in a Miami hospital before being discharged. At the time, insiders suggested the star believed his "busy schedule and constant travel" had increased his vulnerability to illness.
Plea for Help Preceded Hospitalisation
This latest health crisis follows a series of unusual public appeals from the star last month. In December, Ray J took to Instagram to reveal he was hitchhiking from Florida to Los Angeles. In a video reel, he asked his 2.9 million followers for "food" and a "place to stay."
He claimed the journey was part of scouting for a potential reality show titled Celebrity Hitchhiking, stating he was filming a pilot alone on his phone. In the caption of one post, he wrote, "Things got bad for me. I just need shelter and a little help... I'm in a cream jump suit with a red backpack. I'm at the hard rock hotel at the moment. Can some one help me pls."
Recent Legal and Personal Troubles
The singer's recent months have been marked by significant personal and legal turmoil. In late November, he was arrested on Thanksgiving following an alleged domestic disturbance involving his estranged wife, Princess Love.
Law enforcement records obtained by the Daily Mail indicate he was booked on a felony charge of making criminal threats, described as 'terrorising causing fear.' The incident reportedly occurred at a residence in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. Ray J was released on a $50,000 bail after a few hours in custody.
Shortly before that arrest, he filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, alleging their involvement in the leak of their infamous sex tape from 2007. Lawyers for Kardashian and Jenner dismissed the case as a "frivolous" distraction.
Representatives for Ray J have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding his current hospitalisation. His condition and the expected duration of his treatment remain unclear as medical professionals await further test results.
