Jamie Foxx Opens Up About His Health Crisis in New Netflix Special
Jamie Foxx is breaking his silence about a life-threatening health scare that kept him out of the spotlight for six months. In his new Netflix comedy special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…, the Oscar-winning actor reflects on his medical emergency with a mix of humor, heartfelt revelations, and music.
In April 2023, Foxx was rushed to the hospital while filming the Netflix movie Back in Action in Atlanta. At the time, details about his condition were sparse, leaving fans to speculate. Now, Foxx is sharing his journey, which he describes as a “come-back-to-God” moment.
The special opens with clips of fan theories about his illness before Foxx’s daughter, Corinne, takes the stage. Thanking the audience, she introduces her father with a heartfelt, “Give it up for my dad, the real Jamie Motherf***ing Foxx!” When Foxx appears, shades on, and hands over his heart, the crowd erupts.
“You have no idea how good this feels,” he says through tears, before declaring, “Atlanta, I’m back!” The actor credits Atlanta for saving his life, adding, “God is good, all the time.”
Foxx reveals that his health crisis began with a severe headache on April 11, 2023. His sister, Deidra Dixon, noticed something was wrong and drove him to several hospitals before stopping at Atlanta’s Piedmont Hospital. There, a doctor diagnosed a brain bleed that had led to a stroke, requiring immediate surgery.
The actor recalls waking up in a wheelchair on May 4 with no memory of what had happened. He candidly shares the emotional and physical challenges he faced during his recovery, including moments when his ego hindered his progress.
Despite the grim diagnosis, Foxx credits his family for protecting him from public scrutiny and supporting him through his darkest days. He also turned to humor as a coping mechanism, joking, “If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.”
In the special, Foxx delivers his story with his signature comedic flair, impersonating icons like Denzel Washington, Mike Tyson, and Jay-Z. Yet, amidst the laughter, he reflects on his deepening relationship with God and the hard lessons he learned along the way.
Jamie Foxx’s remarkable journey is now streaming in Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… on Netflix.