Jamie Foxx comes clean on terrifying ‘near death experience’

Jamie Foxx recently revealed that his mysterious health crisis left him in a weeks-long coma, leading to a terrifying near-death experience where he “went to hell and back.”

In 2023, while he was filming Back in Action with Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close, Jamie Foxx, 56, sparked concerns when it was reported the actor was taken to hospital with a “mysterious illness.”

In mid-April that year, the comic’s 30-year-old daughter, Corrine, announced that her dad had “experienced a medical complication.” She said that “due to quick action and great care” he was on his way to recovery but never disclosed details on what happened to him.

In July 2023, Foxx broke his silence with an Instagram video update, addressing the swirling speculation surrounding his hospitalization. “I went through something that I thought I would never ever go through,” Foxx said at the time. “I know a lot of people were waiting, wanting to hear updates, but to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me…with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.”

While he expressed gratitude for the support he received, he chose not to disclose specific details about the incident. It wasn’t until December 10^th that the public learned the truth.

‘What Had Happened Was…’

In his newly released Netflix comedy special Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…, the award-winning actor shares that in 2023, he spent 20 days in a coma, with his condition so critical that it was “touch and go” while doctors struggled to stabilize him.

With his signature humor and charm, the Beat Shazam host “sets the record straight,” sharing intimate details about his condition and the strength he drew from the prayers and support of his family, friends, and fans.

In the hour-long stand-up, the multihyphenate entertainer blends humor and heartfelt storytelling, taking his viewers on a journey that started with a “bad headache.”

“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,” says the father, who turns 57 on December 13. “Before I could get the aspirin I went out [blacked out].”

“I was gone for 20 days. I don’t remember anything. So they told me – I’m in Atlanta – so they told me my sister and my daughter took me to the first doctor…They gave me a cortisone shot.” 

He joked, “What the f*** is that?” Foxx quipped. “I don’t know if you can do Yelps for doctors, but that’s half a star.”

Finally, the family found a doctor who diagnosed the comic with “having a brain bleed that had led to a stroke.” And “if [the doctor didn’t] go into his head,” at that moment, he would have died.

Sharing memories with his audience of that blackout, he recalled a few things about being unconscious: “Your life doesn’t flash before your face. It was kind of oddly peaceful. I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light. I was in that tunnel, though. It was hot in that tunnel.”

He then quipped: “S–t, am I going to the wrong place?”

Foxx next explains that he had to relearn basic functions and though doctors told him a recovery was possible, he was also warned that it would be “the worst year of his life,” Foxx recounted.

“I went to hell and back,” the Oscar-winning actor said, adding that when he woke from the coma on May 4, he was unable to walk and depended on a wheelchair for mobility.

“You have no idea how good this feels,” a visibly emotional Foxx told the Atlanta crowd while filming his Netflix special. “I was fightin’ for my life, but I’m here in front of you.”

Serving as proof that laughter is the best medicine, he adds: “I lost everything, but the only thing I could hold onto was my sense of humor. If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.”

The comedian’s journey from a simple headache to a life-threatening condition underscores the need for awareness and prompt medical attention. By sharing his story, Foxx hopes to inspire others to prioritize their health and seek help when necessary.

Have you seen Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…? Please let us know what you think about Foxx’s journey and remember to wish the actor a very happy birthday!

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