By Mark Gray
3:22pm PST, Dec 5, 2023
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In his first public appearance since a mystery "medical complication" took him out of the public eye for months, Jamie Foxx shared new details about his health crisis while accepting a Critics Choice honor in Los Angeles on Dec. 4. As he picked up the Vanguard Award for his turn in "The Burial," the Oscar winner revealed that he couldn't even walk just a few months earlier.
"I want to thank everybody. I've been through something. I've been through some things," Jamie said at the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements.
"It's crazy, I couldn't do that six months ago. I couldn't actually walk too …. It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now. It's different," he continued, growing visibly emotional.
Jamie went on to detail the extent of his medical scare, telling the audience, "I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy, because it's tough when you almost… When it's almost over, when you see the tunnel."
Things did seem grim for Jamie in April 2023 after he was hospitalized with what his family would only call a "medical complication." For months, those closest to the star kept a tight lid on his condition. Insiders told TMZ Jamie needed "all the prayers and well-wishes his fans can muster," while another media outlet reported the Oscar winner's family was "hoping for the best but preparing for the worst."
Keep reading to see what else Jamie shared in his first public appearance since April 2023, then keep clicking for more on his recovery…
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"I saw the tunnel. I didn't see the light!" Jamie Foxx said while reflecting on his near-death experience on Dec. 4.
"It was hot in that tunnel so I didn't know where I was going," continued as his speech took a lighter tone. "'S***, am I going to the right place?'" he joked. "I seen the devil goin 'C'mon, now.'"
After joking he knew some people "were saying I was cloned out there" as he started to recuperate, the actor thanked his sister and daughter for their help in keeping his medical condition private.
"Black people, when we almost die or go through something like that, there's two phrases, one of two phrases we say: 'Lord, have mercy, Jesus. Lord, have mercy, Jesus,'" he said with a smile.
"I want to say six months ago I couldn't fathom that this could happen or that I would be here," he continued. "But as I walk up here to this microphone and get this Vanguard Award, all I can say is 'Lord, have mercy, Jesus.'"
Keep reading for more details on Jamie's recovery since April…
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In April 2023, Jamie Foxx was rushed to the hospital while shooting a film with Cameron Diaz. The hospitalization had "a domino effect" for the movies and TV shows in which Jamie was involved, and all projects including the movie with Cameron were put on hold.
One month after the "medical complication," Jamie broke his silence but remained mum on what was ailing him.
The actor, though, has slowly but surely bounced back over the course of the year, resurfacing in ad campaigns and on vacation while cautiously promoting his film, "The Burial."
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Because of Jamie Foxx's health issue, production of his upcoming Netflix film "Back in Action" was shut down and Nick Cannon subbed for him on his game show "Beat Shazam."
On May 3, the actor broke his silence on the still undisclosed "medical complication" that sent him to the hospital, sharing two posts on Instagram after weeks of silence. "Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed," he wrote. He also thanked Nick for swooping in to help with his show, writing in an Instagram Story, "Appreciate ya my boy @nickcannon," adding, "See u all soon."
Around that same time, Jamie's family was seen visiting him at a rehab facility that specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehab, spinal cord injury rehab and cancer rehabilitation.
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Jamie Foxx was seen relaxing and waving at fans on a boat in the Chicago River on July 9 — the first time he'd been seen in public since his hospitalization. "Boat life [fox emoji] Celebrating summer with @brownsugarbbn Stay blessed!" he tweeted afterward.
One day prior, Jamie also got in some swings at a local Topgolf driving range — and his swing was reportedly "strong," a source told TMZ. "He was walking regular, not dragging his leg. His arm movements were definitely good. He was just regular Jamie," the source added.
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The reemergence of Jamie Foxx continued on July 22 when he posted an Instagram picture of himself atop a gold race car outside a Las Vegas hotel. The photo was meant to promote online sports betting company BetMGM and the F1 Grand Prix, which takes place in Vegas in November.
"Thankful for my @betmgm family and a great few nights in Vegas. We got BIG things coming soon," he tweeted. A photographer later commented on the post, writing, "As always it was a great experience working with you the last 2 days." Other sources involved in the photo shoot said Jamie didn't miss a beat.
The Oscar winner also attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami, where he partied with Meek Mill and LeBron James.
Clearly, his health was improving and his career was nowhere near the finish line.
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Jamie Foxx spoke about how "thankful" he was in August while seeming to make reference to his health crisis. "Finally startin to feel like myself… it's been an unexpected dark journey… but I can see the light," he wrote on Instagram. "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." Jamie said he was "back and better" and "back in the driver's seat."
He later added, "Crisis does not create character… it reveals it."
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Jamie Foxx's recovery took him south of the border with his lady love several times in September. Over Labor Day weekend, the "Ray" star was photographed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with his girlfriend, Alyce Huckstepp. Jamie appeared happy and healthy while holding hands with Alyce. The couple returned to Cabo a few weeks later. A witness told TMZ that Jamie and Alyce seemed "very happy" and looked smitten with each other.
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Amid dire speculation about his health in May, Jamie Foxx's daughter Corinne said that her dad was "well." She even claimed he'd recently played pickleball. She was probably telling the truth: In late September, the Oscar winner appeared in a video with YouTuber David Dobrik on a pickleball court.
"Hey, yo, we the new duo," he told the camera. He later challenged professional pickleball player Tyson McGuffin to a match. "Come on, baby, we good right now," Jamie said.
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Although Jamie Foxx has kept the details of his medical problem under wraps, he reportedly opened up to colleagues about what was going on.
In September, actor Kristen Radford Thom was asked about working with the star on a commercial for BetMGM.
"One of my favorite actors, and he was kind and humble and hilarious — all wrapped up in a ball of energy!" she told People of the experience.
"As private as he is, he was pretty open to our table about his situation without telling us exactly what happened," she added. "He was funny. His improv abilities are unmatched. The entire set was laughing at his jokes."
