ATLANTA — Jamie Foxx is returning to screens after a health scare that left him hospitalized in Atlanta more than one year ago.
Foxx was taken to the hospital after a "medical complication" on April 11, 2023. At that time, he was in Atlanta working on the film "Back in Action," a Netflix movie also starring Cameron Diaz.
Here's a look at what's happened over the last fourteen months.
What happened to Jamie Foxx?
The exact details of what led to Foxx's hospitalization still have not been made entirely clear.
On April 12, 2023, his daughter, Corrine Foxx, wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post, "We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," the post said. "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time."
For the next several weeks, official information was hard to come by, but several friends, including Nick Cannon, Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart, offered small nuggets (sometimes second-hand) of possible insight.
In early May, FOX Entertainment announced that Jamie Foxx would not return for the next season of the Fox game show "Beat Shazam."
Around that time, updates on the actor's condition became more optimistic. Foxx's Instagram account posted, "Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed."
By mid-May, with the lack of information leading to rumors, Corrine Foxx attempted to set the record straight, writing in an Instagram story, "Update from the 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!"
In July, Foxx was seen in public for the first time since the medical incident. waving to fans from a boat on the Chicago River.
Just weeks after that, Foxx posted the first photo of himself on social media since the incident, writing, "Thankful for my @betmgm family and a great few nights in Vegas. We got BIG things coming soon.”
Hours after that, Foxx posted an emotional video thanking fans.
What did Jamie Foxx say about his health scare?
In a video posted on July 22, 2023, the actor thanked fans and family for their support throughout his recovery while addressing some other rumors about his health.
The full text of Foxx's comments were:
"First of all, I want to say thank to everybody that's prayed, man, and sent me messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me, and how it brought me back.
I went through something that I thought that I would never ever go through.
I know a lot of people were waiting, you know, or wanting to hear updates. But to be honest with you: I just didn't want you to see me like that, man. I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a good joke, doing a movie, television show. I didn't you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through. And to be honest with you, my sister Deidra Dixon and my daughter Corinne Marie saved my life. So, to them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video.
I cannot tell you how great it feels to have your family kick in such a way, and y'all know they kept it airtight -- they didn't let nothing out. They protected me. And that's what I hope that everyone can have in moments like these.
Now you know by being quiet, sometimes things, you know, get out of hand. People said what I got. Some people said I was blind but as you can see, the eyes are working. The eyes are working just fine. They said I was paralyzed -- I'm not paralyzed.
But I did go through -- I went to hell and back. My road to recovery had some pot holes as well but I'm coming back and I'm able to work, so I want to thank people that let me work.
And I just want to say that I love everybody, and I love all of the love that I got. And man, you know, I know they talk about people crying on videos, you know you can do take two, but I'm not going to do a take two. It is what it is.
If you see me out from now on and every once in a while I just burst into tears, it's because it's been tough. I was sick. But now I've got my legs under me so you're going to see me out.
But like I said, I just want you to remember me for the jokes that I crack, the movies that I make -- some of them good, some of them ain't -- I think I got a good one out -- and the songs that I sing.
And then some people talking about I'm cloned. Well check this out... [acts like he's taking off a mask]
Just kidding. Not cloned man. But I'm here on Earth because of some great people. I'm here on Earth because of God. I love all of y'all. I just wanted to jump on here and let y'all know that I'm on my back and love."
In August, Foxx shared another update. In an Instagram post accompanied by a photo of the actor in a white t-shirt, Foxx wrote that he could "see the light" after the ordeal.
"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…," Foxx wrote. "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…"
In December, Foxx made his first public appearance since the medical scare. Foxx received the Vanguard Award at the Critics Choice Association‘s Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements for his performance in "The Burial."
He received a standing ovation as he accepted the award and got emotional about the health scare that nearly took his life.
"I've been through something. I've been through some things,” Foxx said. “It's crazy, I couldn't do that six months ago. I couldn't actually walk, too."
He lightened the mood by insisting he is "not a clone," with a laugh, referencing online conspiracy theories.
"It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now. It's different," Foxx said. "I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy."
"I saw the tunnel, I didn't see the light," he cracked. "It was hot in that tunnel! I didn't know where I was going. S***, am I going to the right place?"
Corrine Foxx announced her engagement in December; her father reportedly taking part in the proposal.
By January, PEOPLE reported that Foxx was back on the set of "Back in Action" in Atlanta.
At the African American Film Critics Association awards luncheon in March, Foxx reportedly promised to share more details about his health scare.
"Everybody wants to know what happened, and I'm going to tell you what happened, but I gotta do it in my way," Foxx said, according to a report from USA Today. Foxx went on to say that he would share those details "on stage".
What has Jamie Foxx been up to?
In addition to apparently completing "Back in Action," Foxx served as executive producer of the music trivia show "We Are Family," hosted by actor Anthony Anderson and Anderson's mother, Doris Bowman. Foxx and his daughter, Corrine, had previously been announced for the show.
In late May 2024, Foxx returned to host "Beat Shazam" with Corrine. Foxx appeared alongside Tom Brady, Deion Sanders and others at the Fox upfronts to promote his return.
In the June 18 episode of "Beat Shazam", Foxx took time to thank Nick Cannon, who filled in as host of the game show while Foxx was out.
"Big thanks to the incredible to Nick Cannon, who did a great job hosting the show," Foxx said.
Jamie and Corrine Foxx also thanked Kelly Osbourne, who also filled in during that time.
The week of June 26, Corrine shared an update on her father's health with Entertainment Tonight.
"He's doing so great, he's doing amazing," Corinne says of her father. "[I'm] so grateful to be able to work on [Beat Shazam] with him and spend so much time with him. He's playing a lot of pickleball! That man and pickleball; it's like he's playing twice a day every day... It's a whole thing. He's fully in it."
Corrine shared that her father will play a part in her upcoming wedding to Joe Hooten.
"I'm a little worried about him walking me down the aisle," Corrine told ET. "Obviously it's gonna be beautiful and amazing but, yeah, he's gonna be crying for sure."
Foxx is also reportedly owner and creative director of BSB Whiskey.
He's also been hawking some pickleball merchandise on his Instagram page, as well as producing documentaries and TV shows.
Netflix has announced a Nov. 15 release date for "Back in Action." Foxx posted some photos on his Instagram:
In an interview with FOX Business, Foxx said he'd grown from his medical issues.
"I’ve learned that life is precious, which is why it’s so important for us to go after what we want."
OTHER HEADLINES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
