DMX in ‘vegetative state’ following hospitalization for heart attack, LeBron James, others post tributes

DMX is currently in a “vegetative state,” his former manager, Nakia Walker, told the New York Times on Sunday. The update comes after the rapper suffered a heart attack on Friday night and was admitted to White Plains Hospital in New York.

“We’re just praying,” Walker said, adding that some of the rapper’s (born Earl Simmons) relatives have been allowed to see him in the hospital. She also told Buzzfeed News that DMX is “still in the same condition — in a vegetative state, [with] lung and brain failure and no brain activity.”

He’s “facing serious health issues,” his family said in a statement to PEOPLE.

“We ask that you please keep Earl/DMX and us in your thoughts, wishes, and prayers as well as respect our privacy as we face these challenges,” they wrote.

The artist’s attorney, Murray Richman, previously confirmed to NBC News that DMX was admitted to the ICU after a heart attack, and he had to be resuscitated and put on life support. The lawyer did not know what caused the heart attack and was unable to confirm TMZ‘s report about an alleged drug overdose.

Previously, there were conflicting reports that DMX was off life support and breathing on his own, but Richman told Rolling Stone that he was “given wrong information.”

TheShadeRoom on X (formerly Twitter): “A group of ‘Ruffryders’ Motorcyclists outside DMX’s hospital bumping his music 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/iMgowpC83V / X”

A group of ‘Ruffryders’ Motorcyclists outside DMX’s hospital bumping his music 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/iMgowpC83V

Via Newsweek:

LeBron James is the latest celebrity to pay tribute to rapper DMX, as the musician remains on life support in a hospital in White Plains, New York.

“To one of my fav artist growing up and still to this day DMX, my prayers are with you and sent to the almighty heaven’s above!” James tweeted on Monday.

…Other celebrities have also sent messages of prayers to the rapper as he remains in “critical condition.”

Rappers Missy Elliot and Machine Gun Kelly, actresses Gabrielle Union and Viola Davis, and actor Tracy Morgan were among those who took to Twitter to show support for DMX and his family.

“DMX was the first artist i was in an actual studio with. those nights helped shape me into who i am,” Kelly wrote.

In a video posted to Instagram over the weekend, singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland also prayed for his recovery.

“Lord God in Heaven, bless our brother DMX,” she said. “I ask that you will bless his family. I ask that you will wrap them with love and and support right now. Lord God I ask that you would please cover and keep our brother DMX right now in his bed, Lord God.”

“And ask that you would have mercy on his life and we just hold him up to you and ask that you shine your purest white light on him and all he loves,” Rowland continued. “We thank you for his life, we thank you for allowing us to witness his gift and ask that this is not the end of the road.”