Whitney Houston, one of the greatest singers of all time, had a fascinating love life. Before her death in 2012, she was linked to hip-hop singer Ray J, believed to be her last boyfriend. Take a look inside their alleged romance.
Music superstar Whitney Houston captivated the world with her soulful singing voice. But rumors and controversies also surrounded her popularity, including her alleged romance with hip-hop singer Ray J.
Ray J, whose real name is William Ray Norwood, Jr., is a renowned singer and reality star from "Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood." He has been married to his co-star Princess Love since 2016, and they share two children.
Ray-J and Whitney Houston at Thomas & Mack Center on April 19, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Photo: Getty Images
LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE
The 40-year-old singer was said to be Houston's last boyfriend. On February 4, 2012, TMZ reported that Houston and Ray J were last spotted outside a restaurant in West Hollywood.
The pair were rumored to have an on-and-off relationship. However, the sighting was quite different as Ray J looked courteous and sweet toward the acclaimed singer as he assisted her towards the car.
Less than two weeks after the online tabloid caught the alleged couple's sweet moment in public, news broke that the music icon was found dead inside her room in Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11.
Whitney Houston during the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. | Photo: Getty Images
RAY J BLAMING HIMSELF
Houston reportedly died of an accidental overdose, and her body was found in a bathtub. Five years later, Ray J held himself responsible for her death. During his time in "Celebrity Big Brother," he blamed himself, saying:
"Nobody can explain, it's all my fault. All of that that happened. It's all my fault."
Several media outlets offered him millions to reveal why he blamed himself for the music icon's death, but he declined. He refused to accept the cash offers because it felt wrong at that time.
Ray J attends the Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 5, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. | Photo: Getty Images
HEATED ACCUSATIONS
Shortly after Houston's death, the icon's late daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, and the hitmaker's cousin Dionne Warwick reportedly tried to get into the hotel room where the singer was found lifeless, but they were turned away by police.
The news of Houston's untimely passing was a huge blow to Ray J.
After learning that Houston's cocaine use was one of the causes of her death, the icon's ex-husband Bobby Brown's sister Leolah reportedly claimed that Ray J knew someone who sold drugs and accused him of providing drugs to her mother.
Leolah reportedly claimed that she witnessed Ray J leaving Houston's hotel room when her former sister-in-law died. Meanwhile, Ray J's lawyer later released a public statement denying the accusations.
The lawyer's statement read that Leolah had been out of contact with Houston for more than a year. She was nowhere near the hotel when the legendary musician passed away.
According to ABC News, Ray J was at home when he learned about Houston's death. He rushed to the hotel, but the police attending the crime scene barred him from entering her room.
THEIR EYEBROW-RAISING RELATIONSHIP
The news of Houston's untimely passing was a huge blow to Ray J. However, while dealing with grief, many questioned the reality star's relationship with the "I Have Nothing" singer.
Additionally, the rumored pair's wide age difference raised many eyebrows.
He and Houston sparked romance rumors after being linked in 2010. The "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" singer finalized her divorce from Bobby in 2007, after 15 years of marriage.
Ray J attends the 11th Annual Pre-Grammy In Partnership With Smirnoff Vodka at The London West Hollywood on February 11, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. | Photo: Getty Images
When asked about his relationship with the Grammy Award-winning singer, Ray J denied they were in a romantic relationship, saying the news about them blew out of proportion. He added Houston was a known family friend.
Ray J's sister, R&B singer Brandy, had previously worked with Houston in the 1997 film "Cinderella." Brandy played Cinderella while the veteran singer portrayed the fairy godmother.
Additionally, the rumored pair's wide age difference raised many eyebrows. When the media pressed about their relationship, he appeared coy, stating that his relationship with the acclaimed singer was platonic.
KIM KARDASHIAN & PRINCESS LOVE
But Ray J also said he and Houston wanted to keep their platonic relationship as private as possible. He was previously in a relationship with reality star Kim Kardashian.
He infamously had an on-and-off romance with Kardashian from 2005 to 2007. The break-up between the former couple was highly publicized and quite controversial as it involved a sex tape.
It was the infamous sex tape that seemed to have catapulted the makeup mogul to stardom as it was quickly followed by the airing of her family's popular reality TV show "Keeping Up With The Kardashians."
Kardashian made headlines with her marriage to rapper Kanye West in 2014. However, their high-profile marriage crumbled early this year as they recently filed for divorce.
Like Kardashian, her ex-boyfriend found fame in another hit reality show, "Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood." Ray J is one of the most controversial cast who joined the docu-soap franchise.
It was in the same reality show that Ray J met Princess Love. The pair tied the knot in 2016 and welcomed two children - one-year-old son Epik Ray and three-year-old daughter Melody.
MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS
While Love and Ray J share a blissful union, they soon started having marital problems, as shown in their social media. The pair had repeatedly split and reconciled in the course of their rocky relationship.
Ray J made headlines again recently after being hospitalized in Miami for pneumonia. In addition to his immediate hospitalization, he had also filed for divorce from Love.
Love has yet to comment on her husband's health nor their pending divorce. On the other hand, Ray J released a statement thanking fans for their support and reassuring them he would be on his feet soon.
Ray J and wife Princess Love at a GQ-sponsored Grammy event in February 2017. | Photo: Getty Images
This is the third time the couple has filed for divorce. In May 2020, Love filed for divorce, alleging that Ray J left her and their daughter stranded in Las Vegas following an argument.
However, Love filed another request to dismiss her filing two months later. Their separation drama continued as Ray J impulsively filed for divorce in September of the same year.
But his divorce filing from his wife of five years was in limbo. Recently, the couple appeared to be on good terms as both requested to dismiss their divorce in February 2021.
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