Jamie Foxx finally breaks silence on his mysterious hospitalization and near-death experience: ‘I was gone for 20 days’
Jamie Foxx has finally broken his silence about what led to his mysterious hospitalization in April 2023.
The 56-year-old actor was hospitalized in mid-April 2023 due to an undisclosed medical emergency while filming the spy comedy Back in Action with Cameron Diaz. The star later revealed that he could no longer walk and “saw the tunnel but not the light” as he fought to survive.
The star was filmed in Phoenix told fans about his medical emergency. He had a “bad headache” and asked his “boy for Advil.”
Foxx snapped his fingers and said, “I was gone for 20 days,” adding that he “can’t remember anything at all.”
The Ray star said his sister and daughter took him to his “first doctor” and said: “The next doctor said, “[There’s] “There’s something going on up there” – pointing to his head.
Jamie Foxx has finally broken his silence about what led to his mysterious hospitalization in April 2023
The 56-year-old actor was hospitalized in mid-April 2023 for an unspecified medical emergency, while filming the spy comedy Back in Action with Cameron Diaz – with the star later revealing he could no longer walk – pictured in February 2023
He then said, “I won’t say it on camera.”
In December 2023, Foxx revealed that he had “seen the tunnel but not the light,” speaking openly about his near-death experience during his first public appearance since his shocking health crisis at the Critics Choice Association event.
The actor was visibly moved as he accepted the Vanguard Award during a 12-minute speech at the association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements in Los Angeles.
Foxx admitted he couldn’t “walk” six months earlier, via Deadlinealthough he did not want to reveal too many details about the medical crisis that landed him in the hospital.
“You know, it’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago,” he said after walking across the stage to the microphone. “I couldn’t walk then.”
“I want to thank everybody. I’ve been through something, I’ve been through things,” he said to loud applause.
“I cherish every minute now — it’s different,” he continued. “I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy, because it’s hard when it’s almost over … when you see the tunnel. I saw the tunnel — I didn’t see the light.
“It was hot in that tunnel too, I don’t know where I was going. ‘S**t, am I going to the right place?’”
In his 12-minute speech, he also poked fun at a number of unfounded conspiracy theories that circulated while he was in hospital and subsequently out of the public eye for several months.
The star was filmed in Phoenix telling fans about his medical emergency, he had a “bad headache” so he asked his “boy for Advil.” Foxx snapped his fingers and said, “I was gone for 20 days,” adding that he “can’t remember anything at all.”
The Ray star said his sister and daughter took him to his “first doctor” and said, “The next doctor said,[There’s] there’s something going on up there” – pointing to his head
“I’m not a clone, I’m not a clone. I know a lot of people who said I was cloned.”
“I have a new respect for life. I have a new respect for my art,” he added at the end of his speech.
Foxx also expressed praise and gratitude to his family, including his sister and daughter, for the way they cared for him during his recovery.
Foxx received his award at the beginning of the show, but unlike the rest of the recipients, his honor was not announced beforehand
He also told The Hollywood Reporter, “I have a new respect for life, I have a new respect for my art. I’ve watched so many movies and listened to so many songs, trying to make time pass.
“Don’t give up on your art, man, don’t give up on your art. When you realize that it could be over in an instant… I gotta tell you, don’t give up on your art and don’t let them take your art away from you.”
Foxx returned to Instagram for the first time on May 3 to thank his followers with a text message. “I appreciate all the love!!! I feel blessed,” he wrote at the time.
The actor is recovering from an illness that kept him off set in April and out of filming Back in Action, in which he stars opposite Cameron Diaz. He recently delighted fans by appearing healthy and happy in public.
In July, Foxx first provided a detailed update on his recovery
A source said VSWeekly: ‘Jamie is doing so much better and he’s starting to feel like himself again. He’s not 100 percent yet and he’s still taking it easy, but he’s definitely on the road to recovery.’
They added that Foxx “has a tremendous support system around him and his friends and family make sure he doesn’t bite off more than he can chew.”
‘Foxx is feeling great and can’t wait to get back to work when the time is right.’