Kim Kardashian’s ex Ray J hospitalized again as pneumonia strikes

American singer Ray J has been hospitalized once again after being diagnosed with pneumonia, marking a troubling return of the same serious lung infection he battled just over four years ago.

The 44-year-old singer and reality TV personality is currently receiving treatment after being admitted to a Las Vegas hospital on Tuesday, according to TMZ.

The performer, whose full name is William Ray Norwood Jr., was reportedly suffering from chest pains in addition to the pneumonia.

Sources told the outlet that doctors have already carried out X-rays and an echocardiogram, though the results have not yet been disclosed. Daily Mail reached out to Ray J’s representatives for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

This latest health scare is not unfamiliar territory for the star. Back in October 2021, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ray J was diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalized.

At the time, his condition was serious enough that he initially required supplemental oxygen and an inhaler to help him breathe. More than a week later, he was released from a Miami hospital and was able to breathe on his own.

Insiders previously said Ray J believed his “busy schedule and constant travel” may have contributed to his vulnerability to the illness.

When he was first admitted in 2021, doctors initially suspected he had Covid-19, leading to him being placed in the Covid wing of the hospital, an experience he later described as deeply frightening. After five Covid tests came back negative, he was moved out of the unit two days later.

While battling pneumonia at the time, Ray J shared his fear openly, telling TMZ, “I thought it was over. I started praying and knew God is good so I just kept praying.”

His current hospitalization comes on the heels of a deeply unusual and concerning period in his personal life. Just weeks ago, Ray J stunned fans by revealing on Instagram that he was hitchhiking across the United States. In December, he uploaded a video explaining that he was traveling from Florida to Los Angeles and asked followers for “food” and a “place to stay.”

He claimed the journey was part of a reality project titled Celebrity Hitchhiking. Standing outdoors in one clip, he said, “I'm hitchhiking right now to try to get a place to stay tonight.”

He continued, “Hopefully I can be the new family, and it 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.”

In another video, Ray J appeared inside a casino with a woman and claimed he had just $800 left to his name. The posts raised eyebrows, especially given that they surfaced shortly after his arrest on Thanksgiving following an alleged domestic incident involving his estranged wife, Princess Love.

According to records obtained by Daily Mail, Ray J was arrested around 4:00 a.m. and booked on a felony charge of making criminal threats, described as “terrorizing causing fear.” Law enforcement sources said the incident took place at a residence in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles, where police responded to reports of a possible domestic disturbance involving threats.

Ray J was taken into custody, spent several hours in jail, and was later released on $50,000 bail.

Soon after, he appeared in a Twitch livestream where he described having “the worst Thanksgiving.” During the stream, he claimed someone was attempting to take his children and that he himself was being threatened.

During the livestream, Ray J reportedly reached for a handgun and appeared to load it. Princess Love later entered the frame holding one of their children and accused him of pointing the weapon at her and their daughter—an allegation Ray J denied. Another man then appeared on the stream, further escalating the tense situation.

Ray J is also widely known for his past relationship with Kim Kardashian, whom he dated from 2003 until their breakup in 2006. The former couple filmed a sex tape that was leaked in 2007 and went on to become one of the most infamous scandals in pop culture history.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Ray J filed a lawsuit against Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, alleging they were complicit in the release of the tape.

In response, Kardashian and Jenner’s attorney, Alex Spiro, issued a statement to Daily Mail saying, “After realizing he is losing the case and losing his way, this disjointed rambling distraction is not intimidating anyone. Ray J will lose this frivolous case too.”

Amid the controversy, Ray J doubled down on his hitchhiking claims, saying, “I'm just trying to understand if this show is good, so I'm hitchhiking right now,” adding that he was conducting a “Celebrity Hitchhiking scouting run.”

He said he was filming the pilot himself and showed viewers that no professional crew was present. “It's real, and I'm all by myself. As you can see, nobody's with me,” he said. “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, though, at the same time, and I wanna make it really authentic. I just do it for real on my phone. I mean, I have a camera in there too, but it's just me.”

In the caption of one post to his 2.9 million followers, Ray J wrote, “Things got bad for me. I just need shelter and a little help. I know there is still good people out in this world. I promise I will repay you.”

He added that he was in Tampa and was “Trying to get back to Los Angeles before Xmas to spend time with my family and kids.”

He ended the plea with specific details, writing, “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.”

Now hospitalized once again with pneumonia, Ray J’s latest medical emergency adds yet another dramatic chapter to an already turbulent period marked by legal battles, public breakdowns, and a cross-country journey that left fans deeply concerned about his health and stability.