A new reality show is getting off to a shaky start, according to a new report. On Oct. 12, the Daily Mail reported that singer Ginuwine passed out while rehearsing for the new CW series, Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars. On the show, the R&B musician (real name Elgin Baylor Lumpkin) and other celebrities will work with magician Criss Angel, who trains them in their stunts and will also serve as a judge.
If there’s any question whether or not the stars are really doing the tricks themselves, the scary situation Ginuwine experienced will put them to rest. The singer lost consciousness during rehearsal and was treated by medical professionals. Read on to find out what stunt he was practicing and how he’s doing now.
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Magic With the Stars is set to premiere on the CW on Oct. 22. The series will feature celebrities doing magic tricks, but not just card tricks and other sleight of hand illusions—some of the performances will be far more involved and intense. The stars will train with Angel and then perform for a judging panel made up of the magician, comedian Loni Love, and illusionist Lance Burton. Comedian Eddie Griffin will host.
In addition to Ginuwine, the celebrities participating in the first season are: reality star Cynthia Bailey, actor Brec Bassinger, comedian Michael Ian Black, actor Corbin Bleu, actor Miles Brown, dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, mixed martial artist Randy Couture, former football player Vernon Davis, rapper Flavor Flav, singer Debbie Gibson, Olympic runner Lolo Jones, mixed martial artist Frank Mir, actor Frankie Muniz, singer Omarion, singer Donny Osmond, singer Jeff Timmons, actor Matt Walsh, and figure skaters Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski.
According to the Daily Mail, Ginuwine was practicing a stunt in which he was submerged in a glass cube filled with water. A video obtained by the publication shows the “Pony” singer signaling that he needed to be removed from the cube before being helped out by crew members around him. After he’s pulled out of the water, Ginuwine sits on the side of the tank before being laid out on the floor.
“It all happened so fast, it was like he got tapped out in a fight,” a source said.
The Daily Mail reports that paramedics were called in and that Ginuwine was carried away unconscious.
A representative for Ginuwine told Best Life that the 51-year-old artist “made a full recovery” after the incident. The statement continues, “He was conquering a fear. Fortunately everything is okay as he was working with Criss Angel, who’s the best in the business.”
Representatives for Angel and the CW have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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As indicated in his representative’s statement, Ginuwine’s Magic With the Stars trick involved facing one of his biggest fears. A source told the Daily Mail that the trick was designed to help him overcome his terror of being submerged in water.
“In the show he was trying to overcome his fear of being underwater as he couldn’t hold his breath for longer than 15 seconds before trying the stunt out,” the source explained. “Although he failed in rehearsals, he still went ahead with the stunt on the show and everyone was in tears.”