Celebrity News
Jamie Foxx is a national treasure. We were deeply worried last year when we learned about his health issues.
The Oscar-winning actor revealed in his new Netflix special Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was that he suffered a brain bleed and subsequent stroke during his medical emergency last year.
In April 2023, Jamie Foxx's daughter, Corinne Foxx, announced her father's hospitalization due to a "medical complication," which Foxx later referred to as a "mystery illness." The situation was serious, with family traveling to be with him in Atlanta. Jamie's Netflix special, released December 10, reveals that his illness last year led to hospitalization and a 20-day memory loss from April to May 2023.
“It is a mystery. We still don’t know exactly what happened to me,” Jamie shared. “April 11, I was having a bad headache and I asked my boy for an aspirin. And I realized quickly that when you’re in a medical emergency, your boys don’t know what the f**k to do.” Before he could get aspirin he went out, he said, “I don’t remember 20 days.”
The Ray star affirms that his healing journey would be nothing without his family, including his daughters, Corinne Foxx and Anelise Bishop. Jamie also expressed gratitude to his sister Deidra Dixon, whom he described as "4 foot 11 of nothing but pure love," for driving him around Atlanta in search of a hospital. There, a doctor informed them that he would not survive without surgery.
Deidra knelt outside the operating room, praying while her brother was taken inside for surgery. Jamie recounts:
"Your life doesn't flash before your face. It's kind of oddly peaceful. I say this all the time, I saw the tunnel, I didn't see the light."
Following a medical procedure, Jamie's physicians cautioned that although a full recovery was possible, the next year would be extremely challenging. Foxx's family shielded him from public view due to his dizziness and concerns that his condition might be exploited for online mockery because we know the innanet is not always a safe space.
The comedian recalled his disbelief upon waking up in a wheelchair after a stroke, unable to walk. He remembered saying, “Jamie Foxx don’t get strokes,” and being shocked when his friend confirmed he had indeed suffered one.
The Office of Minority Health reports that African Americans are 50% more likely to have a stroke than white adults. Black men are 70% more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white men, and African American women are twice as likely to have a stroke as non-Hispanic white women.
In Chicago, during his rehabilitation, he was advised to abandon his "arrogant" attitude if he desired a complete recovery. By July 2023, Jamie seemed to be in a better space to share more about the situation as he posted an Instagram video. The update addressed the speculation about what led to his hospitalization, although he did not reveal details of what happened.
He captioned the video, “I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates but to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me like that, man. I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, television show. I didn’t want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was gonna make it through.”
Because he knows we are nosey (ha!) in August 2023, Jamie provided another update on his health sharing, “You’re looking at a man who is thankful… finally startin’ to feel like myself…” he wrote at the time. “It’s been an unexpected dark journey… but I can see the light.”
The special is truly one-of-a-kind as he showcases his multi-dimensional talents. While he was fighting for his life and learning to walk again, he used impersonations to keep the funny because for Jamie, “If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.” He paid homage to Black legends like Wesley Snipes as Nino Brown from New Jack City and Denzel in Training Day, Dave Chapelle and Jay Z and Mike Tyson through his impersonations reminding us that he is truly an icon.
Me at random times while watching:
“I see why it’s nominated for a Golden Globe because it’s beautiful storytelling.”
*cries more than once*
“This man is an icon.”
“It’s his love letter to Atlanta from Ray to T.I.”
“Oh, it’s church?”
*Seeing him on the piano was so nostalgic*
Jamie: “Get you a Black woman, you’ll stay live.”
Me: “I know that’s RIGHT!”
Ultimately, we are so glad to have one of our kings of comedy back and it is a great reminder to take care of ourselves.
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Featured image by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
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