Ray J apologizes for viral 'disrespectful' comments on Diddy following arrest controversy

William Ray Norwood Jr., also known as Ray J, has apologized for his recent remarks about his interview with megachurch pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant. On Friday, November 15, 2024, the R&B artist used his Instagram to express regret for what he described as "disrespectful," "distasteful," and "disgraceful" behavior.

The apology refers to an Instagram story Ray J shared on Tuesday, where he discussed his appearance on The Jamal Bryant Podcast: Let’s Be Clear. At the time, the episode had not been released, and Ray J was adamant about certain parts of the conversation remaining private. 

This led to an intense outburst in which he warned Pastor Bryant against airing the interview, stating, "somebody getting snatched off the pulpit."

During the interview, Ray J addressed his prior statements about Sean "Diddy" Combs following Combs’ arrest. 

This included comments from the October 9 episode of The Reality Check News, where he voiced his frustration with Combs and other influential figures in the music industry for exploiting young entrepreneurs, saying: "I’m exhausted with the people in this industry that have power who are abusing the power. I can say a lot of names. I won’t today but I will soon."  

Ray J criticized those who remained silent on such issues, asking if they had any proof. While acknowledging the difficulty of believing allegations against a friend like Diddy without evidence, Ray J stressed the importance of having stronger leadership and systems in the industry to combat such abuses.

He also condemned internet users for creating memes and jokes about the controversy, arguing that it disrespected the victims and their experiences. This referred to the discovery of 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant during raids at Diddy's residences in Los Angeles and Miami. Figures like 50 Cent had also joined in the online commentary.

At one point, Ray J stated: "Do you forgive somebody for taking somebody's a**? There's a lot of people out there taking form people... people are getting robbed of not only their money and their spirituality, they're getting robbed of their womanhood and manhood. A**es are being taken in ways that nobody can explain."