Ray J remains hospitalized after experiencing another medical emergency – this time in the middle of a livestream.
The 45-year-old R&B singer was at the Fab Factory recording studio in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 1, with his mother, Sonja B. Norwood, when he had the health scare, TMZ reported. He was rushed to the hospital via ambulance, the outlet reported.
The "Love & Hip-Hop" star has since been admitted to a hospital, where "he is resting," his representative, Melinda Santiago, confirmed to USA TODAY Saturday, Oct. 3.
Ray J, whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr., experienced a life-threatening hospitalization in January, which he later revealed was a severe case of heart failure after contracting pneumonia.
The "One Wish" star said in
a Jan. 25 video that his heart is "only beating like 25%" but remained optimistic and grateful.
"As long as I stay focused and stay on the right path, everything will be alright," he said.
In several updates on his work with the subscription-based streaming service Zeus Network, including multiple dating shows, he thanked his parents, sister Brandy and others "for helping," adding that his "health is not OK."
Ray J could've been experiencing low ejection fraction
A low ejection fraction could explain why Ray J's heart was only beating at 25%.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, ejection fraction is the percentage of blood being pumped out with each heartbeat. A normal ejection fraction is usually between 50% and 70%, while below 40% is reduced and below 30% is considered severely reduced.
A severely reduced ejection fraction puts one at risk of heart failure, which is associated with confusion, shortness of breath, fatigue, heart dysfunction and a higher risk of life‑threatening complications. The academic medical center says it may be possible to raise the ejection fraction back into a normal range.
TMZ revealed Jan. 7 that the "Sexy Can I" artist was admitted to a Las Vegas hospital for severe pneumonia and heart pain, citing an unnamed source. He contracted the condition for the second time in four years, after battling pneumonia in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ray J's hospitalization follows multiple legal issues, including a Thanksgiving arrest following a domestic violence call, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY at the time. The "For the Love of Ray J" star was charged with willfully making a threat to kill or seriously injure someone, and though there were no reported injuries, multiple firearms were reportedly recovered at the scene, police said.
He is also being sued by ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, over allegations the singer defamed them when comparing their handling of the former couple's infamous sex tape to Sean "Diddy" Combs' RICO case.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ray J rushed to hospital again after medical emergency mid-livestream
