After a year that brought multiple crash outs, a trip to jail, and a hospital stay, Ray J says 2026 will be different.
The R&B singer and reality star posted a video on Instagram Sunday, Jan. 18, and said he realizes something must change.
“Thank y’all for the love today, man. God is good,” he began as gospel music played in the background.
The Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star insisted he wants to put his recent missteps behind him.
“Something’s new, something is gonna change this year. More blessings, more love. Thank you. Sincerely, thank you for all your prayers. Thank you for all the love, all the criticism. Last year was a crazy year, it was a crash out campaign,” he said. “I love y’all man… I promise y’all, this is gonna be a really, really different wave that we on now.”
He praised his parents and his sister, Brandy Norwood, for helping him get through the difficult times.
“Thank you to my family too, my mom, my dad, my sister, for having my back in this critical time. My sister came through for me, man, I needed her,” Ray J said.
The reality star, born William Ray Norwood Jr., described some of his recent challenges in the caption for the post.
“I walked through a season meant to break me. Jail, sickness, silence, and loss all at once. I take full accountability for my mistakes,” he shared. “God still spared my life when I didn’t deserve it. That alone humbles me. My family covered me. Your prayers carried me.”
The influencer has become a tabloid fixture because of antics and personal struggles.
-On Jan. 6, he was hospitalized in Las Vegas after experiencing chest pains and being diagnosed with pneumonia.
-In December 2025, he went on a viral rant about Diddy and alleged the now-incarcerated music mogul had previously assaulted him. During a livestream captured by his girlfriend Shila, Ray J yelled: “Diddy took my a–” and other NSFW comments.
-Weeks earlier, he was arrested at his home in Los Angeles, and banned from Twitch following a live-streamed domestic dispute with ex-wife Princess Love Norwood on Thanksgiving day.
-On Nov. 12, he crashed out on a livestream with his girlfriend and made her cry. “I love you, you’re one of my closest friends, but I still want to be with my baby mama and my kids,” he said according to HotNewHipHop.
-On Oct. 1, Ray J was hit with a defamation lawsuit filed by former girlfriend Kim Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, accusing him of “reckless disregard for the truth” after he made public statements alleging they were suspected of racketeering.
-Before that, The now 45-year-old singer made waves in September when he tried to get in the shower with 23-year-old streamer Kai Cenat.
The “One Wish” singer really did have a helluva year.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
