The entertainment world held its breath last year when news broke about actor and entertainer Jamie Foxx experiencing a significant health scare. The beloved star, known for his versatility across film, music, and comedy, faced what his family initially described as a “medical complication” while he was in Atlanta filming the upcoming action-comedy *Back in Action*. The lack of specific details in the initial aftermath led to widespread concern and unfortunately, various rumors.
But now, over a year later, Foxx is not only back in the public eye, looking well and working, but he’s also beginning to share his story, offering insights into the challenging journey he navigated. He’s revealed key details about what happened, the severity of the situation, and the path he’s taken toward recovery, often doing so with the humor and grace his fans know and love.
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The incident itself occurred on April 11, 2023, in Atlanta. The very next day, on April 12, his daughter, Corinne Foxx, posted on Instagram to inform the public. The post, which has since been deleted, stated, “We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday.” It added a note of reassurance, saying, “Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery.” The family also took that moment to acknowledge the outpouring of support, noting, “We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers,” while respectfully requesting privacy.
Following that initial announcement, official information was scarce for several weeks. This quiet period, while understandable given the family’s request for privacy, allowed speculation to mount. Friends in the industry, including Nick Cannon, Tiffany Haddish, and Kevin Hart, shared what they could, sometimes based on second-hand information, offering small glimpses of possible insight into his condition.
During this time, the impact on his work became public. In early May, FOX Entertainment announced that Jamie Foxx would not be returning for the next season of the network’s game show *Beat Shazam*. Nick Cannon temporarily stepped into his hosting role, providing an update on April 23, 2023, telling Entertainment Tonight, “He’s awake. They say he’s alert, so we love it. That’s family right there.” Cannon also mentioned that he was preparing to do a special favor for Foxx based on direct instructions, indicating communication was possible even during his hospitalization.
As May progressed, updates from those close to Foxx became more optimistic. His own Instagram account posted a brief but hopeful message on May 3, 2023, simply stating, “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed,” accompanied by appropriate emojis. This marked his first direct communication with fans since the health scare began.
By mid-May, faced with circulating rumors, Corinne Foxx again took to Instagram stories to provide a clearer picture and counter misinformation. Addressing reports that suggested a grim outlook, 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 offered a specific, encouraging detail: “In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!” This post was a crucial moment in setting the record straight and easing the concerns of many.
Indeed, it seems pickleball has become a significant part of his recovery routine. More than a year after the incident, Corinne revealed to ET in 2024 that her father is “so great” and “amazing,” adding that he has picked up the sport, playing “twice a day every day.” This detail paints a picture of active recovery and returning vitality.
Following Corinne’s May 2023 update indicating he was home, further signs of Foxx’s recovery began to surface publicly. In July 2023, he was seen in public for the first time since the medical incident. He was photographed waving to fans from a boat on the Chicago River, a moment that provided visible proof of his progress and return to activity after months out of the public eye.
Weeks after the Chicago River sighting, Foxx posted the first photo of himself on social media since the health scare. On August 16, 2023, he shared a series of pictures captioned, “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…” He expressed deep gratitude, adding, “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…”
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Hours after that photo post, Foxx shared an emotional video with his fans, breaking his silence on the specific details of his experience. He began by thanking everyone for their prayers and messages, emphasizing how much they helped him. “I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back,” he said. He acknowledged the desire for updates but explained, “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 and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through.”
In this July 2023 video, he also directly addressed some of the more alarming rumors that had circulated. “By being quiet sometimes things get out of hand,” he noted, referencing claims that he was blind or paralyzed. He dispelled these, stating, “as you can see … the eyes are working just fine,” and “I’m not paralyzed.” However, he underscored the seriousness of the event, saying, “But I did go through … I went to hell and back. And my road to recovery had some potholes as well. But I’m coming back. And I’m able to work.” He specifically thanked his daughter Corinne and sister Deidra Dixon for their crucial quick action in getting him medical assistance.
Despite his public statements, many details remained under wraps, fueling continued curiosity. The privacy surrounding his condition also unfortunately provided ground for unfounded claims to spread, notably a claim made by a podcaster in May 2023 alleging Foxx was “partially paralyzed and blind” due to a COVID vaccine. Foxx’s rep strongly denied these claims to NBC News, calling them “completely inaccurate.” The text notes this claim preys upon existing, albeit rare and specific, concerns related to one type of vaccine no longer available in the U.S., highlighting how the lack of definitive information can allow disinformation to flourish.
Through the latter half of 2023 and into 2024, Foxx made further public appearances, signifying his ongoing recovery and return to his busy career. In December 2023, he made his first major public appearance since the hospitalization at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements event, where he received the Vanguard Award. His speech was poignant, reflecting on his experience. “I’ve been through some things,” he told the audience. He shared a striking detail about his recovery: “It’s crazy; I couldn’t do that six months ago. I couldn’t actually walk.” He emphasized his newfound perspective, saying, “It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now. It’s different.” He added, “I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over. … 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.”
In March 2024, Foxx spoke at the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Special Achievement Awards lunch, accepting the Producers Award. He again alluded to sharing the full story on his own terms. “Everybody wants to know what happened, and I’m going to tell you what happened,” he told the audience, promising to do it “in my way,” a funny way, getting “back to the standup sort of roots.” This speech further built anticipation for his planned revelation.
