What happened to Jamie Foxx? Actor and comedian thanks god for "second chance" after stroke at BET Awards 2025

Jamie Foxx received the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards 2025, which took place on June 9 at the Peacock Theater, Los Angeles. During his acceptance speech, the American actor and comedian got emotional as he spoke about his experience with stroke. Foxx started his speech by saying,

"We used to take this saying for granted that God is good."

He further shared his emotions by adding,

"When I saw the memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could have been me.' But I don't know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance I'm not going to turn down. I'm not going to turn down. I have so much love to give. I told him (God), I said, "Man, bro, just give me one more crack at this."

Jamie continued his speech by talking about God.

"I said, whatever reason you put this on me, I promise I'mma do right. And I'm going to do it right in front of y'all because I know a lot of times, when we get on, we forget about where we come from."

He further added,

"When I did my special, it was in front of Black people. Black people were the ones that said, man, we got you. Not to say that white people can’t pray either. I know that sounds weird, but y’all know what I’m saying. It’s like you guys held me down, and I don’t want to make this whole speech about that, but you can’t go through something like that and not testify."

In his 2024 Netflix special, Jamie Foxx shared that he had a stroke caused by a brain bleed. It happened in April 2023, when he suddenly got a strong headache and asked for an aspirin.

Jamie Foxx shares details about his medical emergency

In his 2024 Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..., the comedian revealed that after feeling unwell, he was first sent home with a cortisone shot. Later, his sister noticed something was wrong and took him to the hospital, after which the doctors told,

"He’s having a brain bleed that has led to a stroke. If I don't go in his head right now, we're going to lose him."

Foxx, while remembering the traumatic experience, told the audience,

"Your life doesn't flash before your face, it was kind of oddly peaceful, I saw a tunnel, I didn't see the light."

Jamie Foxx woke up in a wheelchair in May 2023. At first, he said, he couldn’t believe what was going on. He shared that he later went through rehab in Chicago to recover.

After Foxx's acceptance speech at the BET Awards, the BET Awards also posted a video of him on Instagram with the caption,

"Thank you, @iamjamiefoxx for sharing your testimony and pouring your heart out on stage for everyone to see during your Ultimate Icon Award speech."

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Along with thanking God, the actor also thanked his daughters, Corinne and Anelise, for supporting him through recovery and making sure he was still here.

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