Jamie Foxx has opened up about the illness that left him hospitalized last year and left him unable to remember a 20-day period from April to May 2023 in a new Netflix special.
Foxx, 56, revealed in a Netflix special, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” that aired Dec. 10, that he suffered a “brain hemorrhage that resulted in a stroke.”
News of Foxx’s “mystery illness” specifically referred to first surfaced in April 2023, when daughter Corinne Fox shared a statement announcing that her father had been hospitalized after experiencing a “medical complication.” It was later revealed that his condition was so critical that his family traveled to be at his bedside.
“It’s a mystery,” he said. “We still don’t know exactly what happened to me. I can only tell you that I value every prayer, because I need every prayer.”
Foxx said he woke up in a wheelchair on May 4 and was then flown to Chicago to rehab.
Foxx’s first update after his ordeal came in July 2023, when he talked about his hospitalization in an emotional Instagram video.
Since then, the Oscar winner has occasionally shared some details, including that she suffered from a bad headache before the incident and could not remember 20 days of her life.
In particular, he detailed his memories of that time, found humor in his recovery and explained how he wouldn’t have gotten through it without his family, including his daughters, Corinne Foxx and Anelise Bishop, and his wife. sister Deidra Dixon.
Foxx also considered rehab in Chicago because when he woke up in early May, he was in a wheelchair and unable to walk.
And Foxx specifically consistently emphasized how close he was to death over his condition and thanked fans for their support and prayers.
In addition to his comedy, Foxx sprinkled in impersonations and musical performances, even bringing a teenage Anelis on stage at one point.
Here’s what Jamie Foxx shared about his health during a new Netflix special.
What was Jamie Foxx’s illness?
In a new Netflix special, Jamie Foxx revealed that he suffered a “brain hemorrhage that resulted in a stroke.”
He said that on April 11, 2023, he started having a bad headache and asked a friend for aspirin. At the time, he was working on Back in Action with Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz, which will be released on Netflix in January 2025.
The initial headache started a painful time for Foxx. “I don’t remember 20 days,” he said.
Once at the hospital, doctors operated on Foxx almost immediately. Although they could not find the true source of the brain hemorrhage, and told his sister that it would be difficult, they believed that it would be possible for her to make a full recovery.
The cause of the medical emergency is not yet known, according to Foxx.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back,” she said in the video. “I went through something I thought I would never go through. I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates, but to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me like this.”
A month later, he shared another update on Instagram.
“You look at a person who is grateful … I’m finally starting to feel myself … it’s been an unexpectedly dark journey … but I can see the light,” she said.
Jamie Foxx reveals new details about health scare
Specifically, Foxx revealed that her headache, an early symptom of a brain bleed, was dismissed by the doctor she first saw, who gave her a cortisone shot and sent her home. He joked that he wanted to give the doctor “half a star” in an online review.
Because Foxx was “lethargic,” Dixon still sensed something was wrong, Foxx said.
Dixon drove around Atlanta with Foxx “aimlessly” looking for a hospital until they arrived at Piedmont Hospital.
“The interesting thing was that when he was driving, he didn’t know anything about Piedmont Hospital, but he believed that some angels had sent him,” Foxx said. “Because he said we would.”
The “cool doctor,” wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, later told Foxx’s sister, “He’s had a brain hemorrhage and it’s a stroke, and if I don’t go to him, we’re going to lose him.” .”
“And (Dixon) answered and said, ‘You may go to him, but you will find nothing, for I have already spoken to God.’
Foxx was then told that his sister was taken to the operating room as she knelt outside the room and prayed the entire time.
“Your life doesn’t flash before your eyes,” he said. “It’s strangely peaceful. I always say this, I saw a tunnel, but I didn’t see the light.”
Foxx later said the doctor came out after surgery and said they didn’t find what caused the brain bleed, but confirmed it was bleeding.
“He might make a full recovery, but it’s going to be the worst year of his life,” Foxx said the doctor told his sister.
The actor credited Dixon and his daughters for helping him throughout the ordeal.
“My daughter didn’t want anyone to see me because I was dizzy from the stroke,” he said. “So my head would do it (shakes head).”
What is a brain hemorrhage?
A brain hemorrhage, also known as an intracranial hemorrhage, is a type of stroke, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Blood collects between the brain and the skull, preventing oxygen from entering the brain. The condition can be fatal and requires prompt treatment.
Common symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:
- Sudden tingling, weakness, numbness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- A sudden, severe headache, also known as a thunderclap
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion and dizziness
- Tight speech
- Lethargy
Did Jamie Foxx have a stroke?
Yes, Jamie Foxx had a stroke in April 2023. He revealed in a December 2024 Netflix special that he suffered a brain hemorrhage that resulted in a stroke.
A stroke occurs when the brain can’t get the blood it needs, usually because of a blockage or burst blood vessel in the brain, as in Foxx’s case. Both scenarios can cause brain damage. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strokes can cause long-term disability or death.
