Bernie Mac's Pneumonia Battle 'Very, Very Critical'

Bernie Mac’s battle against pneumonia is not going well according to sources close to his family who have described his condition as being “very, very critical”.

Danica Smith, the comedian’s publicist, spent much of the weekend playing down reports of her client’s health, which claim he has been rapidly deteriorating, with some rumours even claiming he had died.

Speaking on Sunday, she insisted: "Bernie Mac is still alive and being treated in a Chicago hospital for pneumonia and is expected to make a full recovery. (He is) responding well to treatment and will be released soon."

But an insider tells the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper his condition is more serious, saying only that he is in a "very, very critical" state.