Jamie Foxx’s Health: What Happened to Him?

Jamie Foxx  has opened up about his health again. The Oscar winner shared an update on his recovery from his 2023 health scare during his Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was. “Personal thank you are in order. Just want to jump on and say thank you to everybody that prayed and now you get a chance to hear what it really was it’s a blessing to be in the position that I’m in to be able to tell you my story in my way,” he wrote in an Instagram post celebrating the show’s release. “So please go to Netflix right now And check out my special ‘What Had Happened Was.’ I hope the jokes make you laugh and I hope the story inspires you… It’s been a hell of a journey.”

This follows his detailed post about how he’s feeling, four months after being hospitalized in April for a “medical complication.” He captioned a series of new Instagram photos on August 16, “You’re lookin at a man who is thankful… finally startin to feel like myself… it’s been an unexpected dark journey… but I can see the light… I’m thankful to everyone that reached out and sent well wishes and prayers… I have a lot of people to thank… u just don’t know how much it meant… I will be thanking all of you personally… and if you didn’t know… GOD IS GOOD… all day every day… #swipeleft #imbackandimbetter #nobaddays.”

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In a lengthy video, he revealed he wasn’t sure if he wasn’t sure if he would “make it through” the mystery illness, but declined to give more detail about what his health challenges were. “I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through,” Jamie said in the clip. “I know a lot of people were waiting and wanting to hear updates, but to be honest with you, I just didn’t want you to see me like that. I didn’t want you to see me with tubes running out of me, trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.”

“I went to hell and back. My road to recovery also had some potholes, but I’m coming back and I’m able to work. I wanna thank the people that let me work and say I love everybody and I love all the love that I got,” he also said with a slightly raspy voice. Jamie took the opportunity to clear the air about rumors he was blind or paralyzed, denying both conditions.

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About a month before Jamie spoke out, Porscha Coleman, the actor’s Dad Stop Embarrassing Me co-star, revealed that she’s spoken to people close to her TV father — confirming he was doing well in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Sunday, June 25, 2023. The actress said that Jamie values his “privacy” so it’s no surprise that he’s kept things hush-hush. “He’s resting. He’s well. He’s going to be back!” she said. “Jamie’s fine.”

Earlier in the conversation, Porscha also said that she was upset to see media coverage about Jamie’s situation without all the facts. “I’ve talked to people very close to Foxx. Foxx is doing well. I hate that the media outlets kept running with the narrative of what was going on, without having the proper information,” she said.

The interview came nearly a month after some unfounded claims were made about Jamie’s health. “Completely inaccurate.” That’s how Jamie Foxx’s rep described the claims that A.J. Benza, a podcaster/former writer for the New York Daily News, made on the May 30 episode of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s online talk show, Ask Dr. Drew. Benza made the unsubstantiated claim that Foxx was “partially paralyzed and blind” after he received a COVID vaccine in order to work on the film Back In Action. The former gossip columnist said his unnamed source was “in the room” when Jamie was vaccinated and developed a blood clot. Pinsky didn’t push back on Beza’s claims, but Jamie’s rep told NBC News that what the former gossip columnist said was untrue.

The right-wing/anti-vaxxer side of the Internet ran with Benza’s claims, preying upon the existing concerns over the small and rare number of cases of blood clotting disorders associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, per Yale Medicine. As of March 18, 2021, “out of more than 18 million people who got J&J, 60 cases of TTS were reported, and nine people died.” However, as of May 2023, the J&J vaccines is no longer available in the US. Existing doses of the J&J vaccine had expired by then, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) directed providers to dispose of any that had gone unused.

The privacy and lack of public information around Jamie’s health issues have allowed a lot of fear and speculation to flourish. His family has done what they could to stop the spread of disinformation. On May 12, 2023, his 29-year-old daughter, Corinne Foxx, revealed on her Instagram Story that the 55-year-old Academy Award-winning actor was home and feeling well enough to engage in some physical activity. Hitting back at a report that Jamie was “preparing for the worst,” she wrote, “Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating.” She added, “In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!”

Things seem to be going so well that on Monday, May 15, FOX announced that father and daughter would be teaming up to host We Are Family, a new musical game show on the network. The show will premiere in 2024, and according to PEOPLE, it’s a “music guessing game that will feature one celebrity every episode alongside a non-famous relative,” with the featured star staying under wraps and contestants in the studio audience guessing for a chance at up to $100,000 in winnings.

That same day, a report by TMZ said that Jamie has been “recovering well” and that he was getting physical therapy treatment at one of the country’s best rehab facilities in Chicago.

Jamie Foxx ‘s daughter Corinne posts an update on her father on IG:

“Update from family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!” pic.twitter.com/s95YicOR0F

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 12, 2023

There had previously been mixed messages about Jamie’s health from various sources and his pals that spoke out about his health. However, he did send a message out to family, friends, and fans via Instagram to give an update on his condition on May 3, 2023. “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed,” he typed over a black screen with a heart, praising hands, and fox emoji.

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Just two days before he broke his silence, Jamie’s longtime friend, Charles Alston (better known as “Charlie Mack” or “Mr. Philadelphia”), asked fans for prayers to help Jamie through his sickness. “Good morning IG, I need you all to constantly keep our beloved brotha @iamjamiefoxx up whom we all [love]  & care for dearly in our Hearts, Minds & Prayers!!!!” the hip-hop artist wrote in his concerning Instagram post. “We need you back Bro. As I always state a true champion isn’t the one that wins, it’s the one that meets & overcomes adversity!! You’re test becomes your testimony!!” He then asked “mercy” from “Allah The Creator of the Heavens & Earth” and said he had no shame in begging for help.

Before that, however, his close friend, Nick Cannon, made it seem that Jamie was doing quite well and that he even talked to him. The actor and host revealed that Jamie was “doing so much better” in an April 23 chat with Entertainment Tonight. “I know he’s doing so much better because I’m actually about to do something special for him, and doing him a favor,” Nick teased.

Nick said he could not divulge what that special favor may be, but confirmed he got instruction from Jamie himself. “I was reluctant to go all the way there, and even talk about it, but he gave me the blessing, so it’s a beautiful thing,” he explained. “He’s awake. They say he’s alert, so, we love it.”

So, what really happened to Jamie Foxx, and what was his recovery like? Read on to learn all there is to know about Jamie Foxx’s health and recovery.

What Happened To Jamie Foxx?

Jamie was admitted to the emergency room on April 11, 2023, due to an unknown illness, his daughter, Corinne, revealed on April 12. “From the Foxx family: We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery,” s April 12 Instagram post said. “We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time. Much love, the Foxx family.”

As of April 25, 2023, Jamie Foxx was still believed to be in a Georgia hospital due to an undisclosed medical emergency, as his daughter explained. It is known that he experienced the medical issue while he was in The Peach State filming his upcoming movie, Back in Action, but was not on set, per CNN.  “They are running tests and still trying to figure out what exactly happened,” a person close to the Just Mercy star shared with the outlet on April 14. Back in Action co-stars Cameron Diaz, and it’s her first since she retired from acting in 2014. She was seen filming after Jamie’s issue, and it’s not clear if he had any scenes left to film before he was hospitalized.

Jamie’s longtime pal, Kerry Washington, sent him love after she learned of his unexpected hospitalization by sharing a throwback Instagram pic of the pair. “@iamjamiefoxxappreciation post. Sending you all the love and prayers my movie huzbin,” the 46-year-old actress captioned the post. Kerry played Jamie’s on-screen wife in 2004’s Ray, and 2012’s Django Unchained.

On April 23, Nicole Murphy told PEOPLE that he’s like a “brother” to her. “I just pray everything will be okay,” she told the outlet. “We love Jamie. You know, he’s so talented and he’s an iconic person. He’s just amazing. He’s like a brother to me, and I adore him. I really pray that everything works out for the best for him.”

Other stars, including LeBron James, Jennifer Hudson, Tracy Morgan, Jennifer Lopez, and Steve Harvey have all subsequently sent their best wishes to the actor. On May 3, pal Taraji P. Henson posted a prayer post for Jamie on Instagram as well, writing, “We are praying for you and your family!”

In 2024, the actor used his Netflix special to share what really happened. According to CNN, Jamie revealed that he suffered a brain bleed after experiencing a severe headache, which caused him to “go out.” On the show, he recalled not remembering “20 days” following the incident.

How Long Has Jamie Foxx Been Sick?

As of this writing, it’s not clear when Jamie began showing symptoms that relate to his situation. He became ill enough to enter the hospital on April 11, but his daughter noted that he began recovering the following day. “He is healing,” a person close to the star claimed to Entertainment Tonight on April 18. “He feels the love from everyone.”

On April 21st, a source told PEOPLE that he’s “OK” after the incident. “He’s OK, thank God,” the insider said. “He’s still in the hospital and doctors are running tests but he’s awake and alert. They’re keeping him under observation.”

How Is Jamie Foxx Doing Today?

Jamie is doing much better than he was when he was first hospitalized, considering his daughter revealed he felt healthy enough to play pickleball at home on May 12. Furthermore, an insider said on May 5 that the Golden Globe winner was “stable” following a serious situation. “Jamie is stable and not in a life-threatening situation now,” the insider told PEOPLE two days after Jamie broke his silence on the matter. “[Doctors] are doing more tests and want to be completely sure that he will be okay before allowing him to leave the hospital.” It is important to note that there seems to be a discrepancy between when the source said Jamie was home from the hospital and when his daughter announced he was.

Plus, Jamie’s medical team allegedly advised Jamie to “keep his stress level down” once he is discharged from the hospital. The source claimed that Jamie would rather be anywhere else as the hospital is “the last place Jamie wants to be.”

The close friend added that Jamie has a lot of work lined up and is “focused” on getting better, however, the medical incident was “serious” enough for an extended hospital stay. “He has a lot of projects going on,” they continued. “He gets things done; he is focused and astute. What happened to him medically is serious enough to keep him in the hospital.”

As mentioned before, according to FOX, Jamie and Corinne are now set to host We Are Family, a musical game show set to debut in 2024.