Ray J, the 45-year-old singer known for hits like One Wish, has made a shocking revelation about his health, claiming he may only have months to live due to severe heart damage. In a recent Instagram livestream, the artist opened up about the devastating impact of years of substance abuse on his body, stating that his heart is "black" and "done."
A Grim Prognosis Shared Publicly
During the emotional broadcast, Ray J told his fans, "2027 is definitely a wrap for me. This [gesturing to his heart] is black. This is, like, done." He explained that he had previously been treated for pneumonia, but his condition has not improved, leading to this dire prognosis. The singer admitted that he had underestimated the toll of his lifestyle, saying, "I thought I was big so I could handle all the alcohol, I could handle all the Adderall, I could handle all the drugs—but I couldn't. It curved my time here."
Years of Abuse Take Their Toll
Before his recent health scare, Ray J was consuming alarming amounts of substances daily. He revealed that he was taking 10 Adderall pills per day and drinking "four or five bottles" of alcohol, operating under the misguided belief that he was "undestructible." This reckless behavior has now culminated in a heart that he says is only beating at 25% capacity, according to his statements over the weekend.
A Hospitalisation That Nearly Ended It All
The singer shared that he "almost died" while in the hospital, a terrifying experience that forced him to confront his mortality. In 2021, he was hospitalised with pneumonia and initially placed in the Covid wing after assuming he had coronavirus. He described this period as "terrifying," saying, "I thought it was over. I started praying and knew God is good so I just kept praying." After being moved to a different ward and placed on oxygen, he made a full recovery at the time, but his current heart issues suggest the damage was more profound than realised.
Family Support and a Recovery Plan
Despite the bleak outlook, Ray J has put a recovery plan in place and is receiving unwavering support from his family. His parents, Sonja and Willie Norwood, are set to pick him up for a checkup, and his sister, singer Brandy, has stepped in to pay his bills for the rest of the year. "Shoutout to my momma and daddy, and shoutout to Brandy for looking out for me. My sister paid my bills for me for the rest of the year. That’s crazy," he expressed gratefully.
Reflecting on Fame and Personal Life
Ray J rose to fame in the 2000s with songs like One Wish and a collaboration with Lil' Kim on Wait A Minute, but he is perhaps more widely known for his sex tape with Kim Kardashian. In recent years, he has kept a lower profile, appearing on the 2017 series of Celebrity Big Brother, where he walked off after a week. His personal life has also seen challenges; he shares two children, daughter Melody, seven, and son Epik, five, with his estranged wife Princess Love. The couple appeared on the reality TV show The Conversation in 2020, but she filed for divorce two months later.
A Message of Hope Amidst Despair
In his livestream, Ray J struck a note of cautious optimism, stating, "As long as I stay focused and stay on the right path, everything will be all right." He thanked his supporters for their prayers and encouragement during his hospital stays, acknowledging, "My health is not OK, so I thank everybody for supporting and praying for me through everything I’ve been in the hospital." This public admission serves as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of substance abuse, even for those in the spotlight.
