At the recent African American Film Critics Association annual luncheon, Jamie Foxx joked about his recent health scare in his award acceptance speech, quipping that he “passed away.”
During his acceptance speech, Foxx also revealed that he plans to address the health issue humorously and on the stage in a stand-up project.
Since his recovery, the actor has made multiple public appearances, including a big comeback at a Critics Choice Association event, where he was presented with a Vanguard Award.
Jamie Foxx Jokes About His Health Scare
Foxx was among many celebrity guests at the recent annual luncheon of the African American Film Critics Association, held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. At the event, he was awarded the AAFCA’s Producers Award and gave a moving acceptance speech.
During the speech, Foxx inserted a light joke about his severe health scare, which left him hospitalized for months last year.
He shared that the mysterious health emergency had made him appreciate some of life’s daily pleasures that people take advantage of. He also joked about how he actually “passed away” while fighting for his life at the time.
Foxx said, “Cherish life, man. I have some people in my life that really made sure I was here because it was dire straits. So I value, I’m telling you. My daughter thinks sometimes I’m too thankful, nowadays. Because I’m just so thankful.”
“I was drinking some water, ‘Wow, have you tasted this water? It’s so wet! This is the wettest water. Was it like this before I passed away?’” the actor joked, per a news outlet.
The Actor Said The Illness Left Him Unable To Walk
Foxx previously addressed his health scare during his appearance at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino, and AAPI Achievements. At the ceremony, Foxx was presented with a Vanguard Award for his performance in Amazon Prime Video’s “The Burial.”
At the time, Foxx said the illness had left him unable to walk for a while after his release from the hospital. The “Django Unchained” star added: “I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy because it’s tough.”
Foxx’s medical issues started in April when his daughter, Corinne Foxx, revealed to the world that he was receiving treatment at a hospital after an undisclosed medical emergency.
A few weeks later, Corinne shared an update that Foxx had been released and was recuperating well. The actor was then seen playing pickleball and subsequently on a boat cruise. He was also confirmed to be receiving treatment at a rehab center in Chicago.
Due to the mystery surrounding his health scare, there were rumors about Foxx’s well-being. To dispel the rumors, Foxx released an Instagram video about the effects of the medical emergency on his body. The actor confirmed he wasn’t paralyzed or blinded and even joked that his sight was “just fine.”
Jamie Foxx Plans To Share His Experience On The Stage
Since the health scare and recovery, Foxx and his family have kept details of the incident private from the world. However, on Sunday, the “They Cloned Tyrone” actor said he’ll finally share details from the experience with the world, but in a “funny way” and back “on the stage.”
At the AAFCA event, he said, per Variety: “Everybody wants to know what happened, and I’m going to tell you what happened. But I’ve gotta do it in my way. I’m gonna do it in a funny way. We’re gonna be on the stage. We’re gonna get back to the stand-up sort of roots.”
Foxx further noted that the stand-up project will be titled “What Had Happened Was” and will have all the juicy details the world has been waiting for.
The actor also teased that the stand-up show will address all the rumors that spread about him after the health scare, including that he’d been cloned and replaced.
Foxx will also be co-hosting Fox’s “Beat Shazam” with Corinne, a project he’d previously dropped out of amid the news of his medical crisis.
Jamie Foxx Is ‘Thankful’ For A ‘Second Chance’ At Life
While celebrating his NAACP Image Awards nomination in January, Foxx took the opportunity to express how happy he was to have survived his health scare.
The NAACP Image Awards, which celebrates the achievements of people of color in the arts and entertainment industry, recognized Foxx’s contributions with nominations in three separate categories: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for “The Burial,” Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for “They Cloned Tyrone,” and Outstanding Independent Motion Picture for “Story Ave.”
“Super thankful to the @naacpimageawards for these nominations,” Foxx wrote on Instagram about the award nods. “I cannot tell you how great it feels to be recognized by our own … and big thanks to @datariturner your vision and your relentlessness to get all of our projects done at the top of expertise and execution has been something to marvel.”
The “Day Shift” actor then noted how grateful he was for a “second chance” at life after his mysterious health scare that kept him hospitalized for months.
“And on a personal note, I am humbled and thankful to God that I get a second chance to enjoy and appreciate life …,” he wrote, tagging his daughter, Corinne, and sister, Deidra Dixon.