Jamie Foxx has recently disclosed the cause of his unexpected hospitalization last year, clarifying that he experienced a stroke due to a brain hemorrhage.
In April 2023, the 56-year-old actor, known for his role in Django Unchained, was taken to the emergency room after encountering a mysterious ‘medical complication’, a matter his family chose to keep confidential.
Foxx has now shared the details of what occurred, revealing that he suffered memory loss spanning 20 days and faced challenges in walking during his frightening health crisis.
He said on his Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was….: ‘On April 11, I was having a bad headache, and I asked my boy for Aspirin. I realised quickly that when you’re in a medical emergency, your boys don’t know what the f**l to do.’
He then confessed: ‘I don’t remember 20 days.’
The Hollywood star wrote on Instagram: ‘Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed [prayer and heart emojis] (sic).’
Jamie went on to admit it’s still ‘a mystery’ what happened, adding: ‘We still don’t know exactly what happened to me.’
After starting his sentence with ‘What had happened was,’ Jamie broke down in tears and was comforted by the applauding audience.
He then said: ‘Your life doesn’t flash before you. It was kind of oddly peaceful. I saw the tunnel, but I didn’t see the light. It was hot in that tunnel.’
Jamie then quipped: ‘S***, am I going to the wrong place?’
The Oscar-winning actor credited his sister Deidra with ‘saving [his] life’ after she ‘aimlessly’ drove him around before taking him to Atlanta’s Piedmont Hospital, where he underwent a life-saving procedure.
Addressing why his family wanted to keep details of his health scare to themselves, he said: ‘I was dizzy from the stroke, so my head would bob around, and my family thought everyone would “meme the f***” out of me.’
Jamie vividly remembers waking up on May 4, and being unable to walk.
He recalled: ‘When I woke up, I found myself in a wheelchair. I couldn’t walk.’
Jamie didn’t want to believe he’d had a stroke and recounted his therapist telling him about his ego: ‘You need to kill the old Jamie so the new Jamie can thrive.’
He also reflected: ‘God blessed me with money and fame, but when I forgot about God, He blessed me with a stroke.’
The Netflix special marks Jamie return to the stage following his hospitalization.
‘If I can stay funny, I can stay alive,’ he quipped in the first look teaser.
He added: ‘This comedy event is a celebration of resilience, humor, and the power of community, reminding us all of the healing power of laughter,’ a synopsis previously revealed.
The comedy event is one of a number of forthcoming projects the A-list actor has on slate, as he headlines the comedy movie Back in Action for the streaming service in a reunion with Any Given Sunday and Annie costar Cameron Diaz.
The film is expected to begin streaming January 17, 2025.
In April 2023, his daughter Corinne announced her dad was suffering from a medical complication.
In a statement written on behalf of her family, she explained: ‘We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday.
‘Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.’
The following month, Jamie took to social media to thank his fans for their support.
The Hollywood star wrote on Instagram: ‘Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed [prayer and heart emojis] (sic).’
