Ray J embarks on cross-country hitchhiking journey following recent domestic dispute and arrest.
Ray J is seeking assistance from his followers as he begins an unusual journey back to Los Angeles.
“I’m hitchhiking right now to try to get a place to stay tonight,” the 44-year-old artist announced via Instagram on Saturday, December 13, revealing his participation in a new program titled Celebrity Hitchhiker. “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.”
Ray J recorded the video in Tampa, Florida, stating his objective is to reach Los Angeles in time for Christmas.
“I’m just trying to understand if this show is good, so I’m hitchhiking right now,” he explained. “So if y’all see me on the street, coming from Tampa, back to Los Angeles, it is me. I do have a change of clothes right here in my bag. I need to get back before December 22nd, so I’m on a Celebrity Hitchhiking scouting run.”
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Although he is filming the experience for the show’s pilot episode, Ray J affirmed, “it’s real and I’m all by myself. As you can see, nobody’s with me.”
He then seemed to reference his arrest on Thanksgiving Day.
“I need some food and I need shelter. Just a lot of shit that’s happened. And I just wanna get back home and see my kids,” he expressed. “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.”
Ray J, real name William Ray Norwood, Jr., was arrested on November 27. The singer initiated an Instagram live feed early that morning, telling viewers he was experiencing “the worst Thanksgiving in the fing world,” TMZ reported at the time. He subsequently claimed someone was trying to take his children.
Viewers observed as Ray J appeared to point a gun at his estranged wife, Princess Love, and at least one of their children.
The clip began with Ray J saying, “Y’all wanna drive drunk? Y’all wanna drive drunk? Drive drunk. Drive drunk, Princess,” before Love interjected, “Ray, you just pointed a gun–”
“Drive drunk, princess. Go ahead,” Ray J continued. “You wanna take my kids? You and your drunk cousin? Cuz y’all drunk at the alcoholics? Take my kids then, go ahead. Who’s gonna drive? Tony, he’s been drinking too.”
“You pointed a gun at us, you pointed a gun at us,” Love reiterated. She later added, “Ray, you’re a woman abuser.”
“That’s what a drunk [person] always say. Like, you taking my daughter?” Ray J replied.
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The singer was released from custody later on November 27 and spotted afterward by TMZ. He has not officially commented on the dispute with Love or his arrest. Us Weekly sought comment from Ray J's representatives at the time.
Ray J and Love documented the beginning of their marriage for the VH1 series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. They married in August 2016 and have filed for divorce numerous times. They share daughter Melody Love, born in May 2018, and son Epik Ray, born in January 2020.
