Days before Whitney Houston died, the singer's on-again off-again boyfriend Ray J opened up about the couple's roller coaster romance during an interview with The Insider.

Despite numerous reports over the years linking the pair romantically, Ray J, the rapper best known for making a sex tape with his ex, Kim Kardashian, denied the two were anything but friends.   

It was reported that Ray J rushed to the Beverly Hilton hotel after receiving news of Houston's death, but was turned away by law enforcement.

On his connection to Whitney Houston:

You know people blow this thing out of proportion. I mean that's my friend. I've been knowing her for years and years and she's a part of the family. So when we go out the next day it's everywhere and there's so many different stories but that's my people, that's my friend.

That's a friend that you were once romantically involved with?

You know what, I have a lot of love for her and I have a lot of respect for her.

But you were once romantically involved with her?

I don't think you could really say that.  I just think our friendship is something people may not understand. Maybe because of the age difference but we've always just been friends.

There was also a physical relationship that went along with the friendship, right?

We hug.We laugh. We go out to dinner. We talk about, you know, different things in our lives and she's a cool person.

At any time did you ever have a relationship in the sense of a man-woman relationship that was more than just friendship? Did it ever go further than that?

Well, we've always kept our relationship as private as we could, but when we go out she's such an icon that it reaches the masses. For the most part, we've just been friends and we've always kept it hush-hush and quiet. You know we really don't focus on that.

How is she doing today?

Great. Great, from what I know but you would have to ask her because she can tell you better than me.

But you would know if she's okay. Is she past her demons?

We had a great dinner.

Tags: Whitney Houston