Jamie Foxx “flipped” when he read wild rumors about his health scare during his hospital stay. The incident occurred during one of the most challenging periods in the Oscar-winning actor’s career, highlighting how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age.
The 57-year-old Hollywood actor fell ill in Atlanta, Georgia in 2023 while he was in town filming his Netflix movie ‘Back in Action’ and it was later revealed he’d suffered a stroke which left him in a coma for almost three weeks, but at the time his family kept details of his health battle secret – putting his illness down to a “medical complication” – and it led to fervent online speculation about what happened to him. Stroke remains a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.
Jamie has now revealed he read some of the rumors while he was in hospital and one story in particular freaked him out. The proliferation of health-related conspiracy theories has dramatically increased since social media became mainstream, with celebrities often becoming targets of wild speculation during medical crises.
“I was doing so many jokes in the hospital. That’s the only way I could get through it,” Jamie explained, speaking at The Hollywood Reporter’s Stand-Up Comedy Roundtable event. “I’m a comic, so even when I was heavily sedated, and they gave me OxyContin, Dilantin and morphine at the same time … it was: ‘This is for your pain, and this is so you don’t remember it’…” Medical professionals often recognize humor as a powerful coping mechanism that can aid in the healing process.
“I snuck in my phone because I didn’t know what the outside world was saying and I couldn’t get my mind around the fact that I had a stroke. I’m in f****** perfect shape…” he continued. Despite maintaining excellent physical fitness, strokes can occur unexpectedly, even in seemingly healthy individuals who maintain active lifestyles.
“[I saw rumors like] ‘Puffy tried to kill me’. No, Puffy didn’t try to kill me,” Jamie revealed, referencing wild conspiracy theories that circulated online during his hospitalization. These baseless rumors demonstrate how quickly false information can spread when public figures face health emergencies.
Jamie went on to add he saw another rumor suggesting he was “a clone” and “that made me flip.” Celebrity cloning conspiracy theories have become increasingly common on social media platforms, often targeting high-profile entertainers during vulnerable moments.
“I’m sitting in the hospital bed, like, ‘These … m************ are trying to clone me’,” he said. “And then I saw me walk into my room, but I’m white, so I see the white me. The next morning, I said: ‘I know what’s up, you’re trying to clone me and make me white so I’ll sell better overseas’.” This vivid hallucination was likely caused by the powerful combination of medications and the psychological impact of his medical condition.
The actor added that his psychiatrist asked if he was “all right” and Jamie asked him: “Am I all right or am I all white? I saw you trying to get the white m************ Jamie Foxx and it ain’t going to happen.” Medical experts note that post-stroke patients often experience confusion and disorientation during recovery, particularly when combined with strong pain medications.
The psychiatrist then suggested lowering the dosage of his medication. This type of medication adjustment is standard practice during stroke recovery, as doctors work to balance effective pain management with maintaining cognitive clarity and mental stability.
When another participant at the round table event asked about reading the conspiracy theories, Jamie added that he was “on another planet.” Stroke survivors frequently report similar out-of-body experiences and altered states of consciousness during their recovery periods.
Jamie previously opened up about his health scare during his Netflix special ‘Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was … ‘ revealing his symptoms started with a headache and he was driven to hospital by his sister where doctors told he needed surgery to save his life. Early medical intervention proves crucial in stroke treatment, with immediate care often determining long-term outcomes.
“Your life doesn’t flash before your face. It was kind of oddly peaceful … I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light. I was in that tunnel, though,” Jamie said. Near-death experiences are commonly reported by cardiac arrest and stroke survivors, with tunnel visions being among the most frequently described phenomena.
The actor’s candid revelations highlight the serious dangers of health misinformation spreading rapidly through social media, especially when beloved celebrities face life-threatening medical emergencies. His remarkable recovery journey and willingness to share these intimate details have helped raise crucial awareness about stroke symptoms and the vital importance of seeking immediate medical attention when warning signs appear.
