Ray J was reportedly admitted to the hospital this week for a “severe” case of pneumonia and heart pains.
A source told TMZ on Wednesday that the “Sexy Can I” artist, 44, was hospitalized in Las Vegas, where doctors ordered an echocardiogram and X-rays to assess his condition.
Ray J, whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr., has yet to publicly comment or share updates on his health since the scare. It remains unclear if he has been discharged, though the hitmaker was posting on his Instagram on Thursday and Friday. One post he shared included details about his birthday celebration in Austin, Texas on Jan. 18.
This isn’t the first time the “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood” star has faced respiratory issues. He battled a serious case of pneumonia in 2021, as previously reported by TMZ. At that time, Ray J was admitted to a Miami hospital during the height of the pandemic. Doctors initially suspected he had contracted the virus along with pneumonia, and he was placed in the designated COVID-19 wing.
“I thought it was over,” Ray J told the outlet about his stay. I started praying and knew God is good so I just kept praying,” However, multiple negative COVID tests later, the hospital moved him to a different ward, where his condition eventually improved.
Prior to Ray J’s hospital visit this week, he revealed that he was filming a new project called “Celebrity Hitchhiker,” which involved him hitchhiking across the country. In an Instagram video posted on Dec. 13, Ray J explained that he was in Tampa, Florida and wanted to reach Los Angeles in time for Christmas.
“I’m hitchhiking right now to try to get a place to stay tonight,” he told followers. “Hopefully I can meet a new family, and they can take me in and teach me about their rules and their goals and life, and then send me on my way to the next destination.”
He added, “I need some food and I need shelter. Just a lot of s— that’s happened. And I just wanna get back home and see my kids. It’s a hitchhiking show, but it’s real tough at the same time, and I wanna make it really authentic… it’s just me.”
It is currently unclear why Ray J was in Las Vegas at the time of his latest pneumonia bout or if his recent travels contributed.