Jamie Foxx had fans concerned when rumors swirled about a health emergency. There has been some conflicting news since then, but close sources report the star has been on the mend. He backed up those sources by waving to the press after boarding a boat that took him on a cruise across the Chicago River.
Foxx followed his appearance with an Instagram post that read, “Boat life, Celebrating summer with @brownsugarbbn”. The tag refers to Brown Bourbon Sugar, a flavored whisky brand that Jamie appears to own.
Jamie was also spotted in and around Chicago. He retrieved a lost purse for a random woman. He has also been working on his golf game.
People who have seen him say, “He was walking regularly, not dragging his leg. His arm movement was definitely good. He was just regular Jamie”.
The statement refers to rumors that Jamie may have had a stroke.
What Happened to Jamie?
People are still unclear on what led to Foxx’s healthy scare which made news on April 12, 2023. His daughter Corinne broke the news on her Instagram page stating, “We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and 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”.
A source close to the family confirmed that Jamie was taken to the hospital on April 10. They did not reveal the cause of the health scare, but they stated that it was bad enough that his family flew in to see him at the hospital. “He’s communicating now, and that’s good news,” they stated.
It is unclear whether the health scare was related to issues Jamie has discussed in the past. He talked about substance abuse issues he dealt with in a 2018 interview with Hip Hop Hollywood. “I went in for two pills, then seven pills (he received from the hospital), that’s real,” he said.
He also appeared on Oprah and spoke about being hospitalized as a teenager. “I couldn’t move, couldn’t talk, couldn’t even say, ‘Take me to the hospital’. It happened to me when I was 18, and I had 11 months of harsh flashbacks, and then when I was 26 I had a flashback just like that- and another one when I was 32, and that was the last one, but I always worry about it coming back,” he said.
Was it a Stroke?
Amidst the back and forth, there was speculation that Jamie had a stroke. TMZ reported that he was transferred to a rehabilitation center that specializes in stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and cancer rehabilitation.
Mike Tyson, who Foxx was set to play in a biopic, further raised speculations that Foxx may have had a stroke.
“He’s not feeling well. They said a stroke,” Tyson stated on a PBD podcast. However, he went on to say he wasn’t sure if it was true.
“I have no idea what happened to him. Hey listen, we can’t anticipate our next breath. We don’t know when we are gonna die… After we leave, this bad stuff can happen.”
Rumors were taken a step further when podcaster A.J. Benza appeared on an Ask Dr. Drew episode claiming Foxx had a stroke and became “partially paralyzed and blind” after receiving a COVID vaccine.
Foxx’s reps shot back stating the claim was “completely inaccurate.”
What is Jamie Foxx Up to Now?
It appears that Foxx will be getting back to acting and game show hosting once he feels well enough. His Netflix film “They Cloned Tyrone” premiered on June 29, 2023.
Foxx was not at the premiere of the movie which was filmed from 2020-2021, before the medical scare. Film co-producer Datari Turner gave the following statement, “He’s in really, really good shape and spirits. And he’ll be back on the screen. He’ll be back to work very soon,” he said.
Jamie was also set to star in the movie “Back in Action” alongside Cameron Diaz. He pulled the 50-year-old actress out of retirement just for the role.
Filming took place from March to April 2023 coinciding with Foxx’s illness. Stunt doubles were used to replace him in the remaining scenes.
There is also news that Jamie Foxx will be hosting a new gameshow alongside his daughter Corinne, The two previously hosted “Beat Shazam”.
Now they have plans to host a new game show, “We Are Family” in which hidden celebrities perform songs alongside their non-famous kin. Audience contestants win money for identifying the celebrities.
The show is set to premiere in Fox TV’s fall season. The exact dates and times are yet to be announced.