Jamie Foxx has opened up about the near-death experience he had last year, revealing that it was a "brain bleed" that led to a stroke. In April 2023, the star's family announced that he was recovering from a "medical complication", which Foxx later described as going "to hell and back".
In his new Netflix comedy special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..., he discusses the circumstances of his condition for the first time. The actor said that his illness is still a "mystery" and that "we still don’t know exactly what happened to me". Visibly emotional, he took to the stage, sharing his gratitude to be alive after "fighting" for his life and recounted how he was filming the Netflix film Back In Action with Cameron Diaz when he suddenly fell ill.
He initially experienced a "bad headache" and received a cortisone shot from a doctor. However, his sister Deidra Dixon noticed that something was wrong and took him to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, where he was treated.
Jamie credits his sister with helping him, saying that the doctor told her he was "having a brain bleed, that led to a stroke". He praised the medical team at Piedmont Hospital, saying "Atlanta saved my life."
He shared that his sister was told "if I don’t go in his head right now, we’re going to lose him", leading to an immediate surgery. He added: "My sister knelt down outside the operating room and prayed the whole time."
Jamie also described the experience as oddly peaceful, saying: "It was kind of oddly peaceful, I say this all the time; ‘I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light. I was in that tunnel, though’. It was hot in that tunnel."
His family then decided to shield him from public scrutiny during his illness, which caused his head to shake and made walking difficult. He revealed: "Twenty days I don’t remember, but on May 4 I woke up. When I woke up, I found myself in a wheelchair, I couldn’t walk."
Jamie also admitted struggling to accept his condition and feeling "down in the dumps". Seeing a psychiatrist helped him cope and rekindle his relationship with God. He explained "If I can stay funny, I can stay alive."
His daughter Corinne took to Instagram to post a heartfelt picture with the surgeon who saved her dad’s life, stating: "You shared your truth, your story in the most beautiful and honest way. I will never forget those months of uncertainty and recovery. You were resilient, brave, strong... and funny. Even on the hard days, even when you didn’t remember it, you were always funny. It’s just who you are."
Will Smith, who worked alongside Foxx in the hit movie Ali, also shared his joy on Instagram: "I’m glad to see you back doing what you LOVE. Welcome home. I can’t wait to check it out."
