June 12, 2025, 4:36 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Even though Jamie Foxx has won several awards, including an Oscar, being honored as the “Ultimate Icon” on June 9 in Los Angeles was particularly special. The Hollywood star reflected on his stroke, which nearly cost him his life. And at 57, he knew exactly whom to thank in his speech!
This year’s BET Awards in L.A. turned unexpectedly emotional. Jamie Foxx, honored for his decades-long contributions to music, film, and entertainment, was the reason. After receiving the award from music icon Stevie Wonder, the atmosphere became highly emotional. Jamie Foxx, who had fought his way back to life after a stroke, took the microphone—and what he had to say was deeply moving. Among other things, he delivered a heartfelt thank-you speech to his personal lifesavers.
Overview
Jamie Foxx Survives Stroke
Looking back: For a long time, it was unclear what had happened to Jamie Foxx in April 2023. There were rumors about a medical emergency, a mysterious illness, or heart problems. Only his closest family members knew the exact nature of the incident and the reason for his hospitalization. Even when he seemed to be recovering, Jamie Foxx rarely spoke publicly about the events. Until December 10, 2024!
On that day, about a year and a half later, he revealed the secret of his health-related hiatus. In his Netflix comedy special “What Had Happened Was,” Jamie Foxx addressed the public and disclosed a stroke following a brain hemorrhage that he narrowly survived.
Sister Deidra Saved His Life
Jamie Foxx recounted that on April 11, two years prior, he was plagued by headaches during the filming of “Back in Action” and visited a doctor. The doctor gave him a cortisol injection and sent him home. It was his sister Deidra who recognized the seriousness of the situation and took him to another doctor. At the hospital, the true severity was revealed: a stroke as a result of a brain aneurysm, necessitating immediate emergency surgery! Otherwise, the consequences would have been fatal…
Jamie Foxx Describes Near-Death Experiences
According to his own account, his life hung in the balance for about 15 days, and he had no memory of 20 days. “They thought they were going to lose me because my vital signs were out of control.” He even described near-death experiences. “Your life doesn’t flash before your eyes. It was kind of strangely peaceful. I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light. But I was in this tunnel. It was hot in this tunnel. S***, am I at the wrong address? Because I looked at the end of the tunnel, and I thought I saw the devil saying, ‘Come on.'”
At some point, a miracle happened, thanks to his youngest daughter, Jamie Foxx recalled in “What Had Happened Was.” “Anelise snuck into my room with a guitar. When she played, my vitals improved. It was God in that guitar,” he added.
The Road Back to Life
In early May 2024, Jamie Foxx finally woke up from the coma. “On May 4, I woke up, and when I woke up, I found myself in a wheelchair. I couldn’t walk, I was in a wheelchair, and I thought, ‘Why the hell am I in a wheelchair? I’m just getting out of this mess,'” he recalled. It was only in a rehab facility in Chicago that he recovered and learned to walk again. By August, he felt significantly better, and by the start of 2024, he was able to work again.
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“You Made Sure I’m Here”
Now, a year later, the Hollywood star used the BET Awards to express his gratitude to the world. But first, he was once again reminded of how narrowly he escaped death. “I have to be honest. When I saw the ‘In Memoriam’ part of the awards, I thought, ‘Man, that could have been me,'” he admitted. He then highlighted three close people in his life, all of whom were in the audience. “I have to thank my sister Deidra. When I went through what I went through, she stopped it. She took care of her brother,” the star of the evening said tearfully. He also thanked his daughter Corinne for taking responsibility at the right moment. “You made sure I’m here!” he said, visibly moved. Finally, he addressed his second daughter, Anelise. “She snuck into my hospital room with her guitar and said, ‘I know what my daddy needs!'”
He concluded his speech with these words: “I don’t know why I got this second chance. But I’m not going to waste it.”1 No question: Jamie Foxx is definitely back and grateful to be alive!