“If I could stay funny, I can stay alive!”
That was the mantra that kept Jamie Foxx alive, which he explains in this testimonial stand-up special about the events that nearly cost him his life back in 2023. We all heard the rumors about what happened. Renowned triple threat Jamie Foxx suffered a serious medical event resulting in him becoming hospitalized. Amid conflicting reports about the nature of his condition, including rumors that he was gravely ill, his condition for the most part remained a mystery and a closely guarded secret within his family. Then the rumor mill started to include tales that the actor had died, and the family was keeping it secret. And as if that was not outlandish enough, following the actor posing a video clip in which he commented about his health, saying that he had been to “hell and back,” then the rumors started that the actor had been cloned, this coming after the release of the film They Cloned Tyrone, in which the Jamie Foxx is featured. The irony of such an idea was not lost on the actor. Now hear it from the man himself in a one-of-a-kind of comedy special that only he could have made. Now I will warn, Jamie will take you on an emotional rollercoaster as he lays out the life-threatening medical emergency and his long journey back to the stage.
Performing before an Atlanta crowd at the Alliance Theatre, Jamie Foxx, ever the triple-threat, provides a stand-up special containing songs and anecdotes with the main topic his time away from the limelight while undergoing a medical emergency in 2023. I won’t go into too much detail about the specifics of the medical situation so as to encourage folks to watch the special for themselves, but it is clear that the situation had a tremendous impact on the actor, as well as his family and friends. In front of a sold-out crowd, Foxx emotionally retells what he remembers of the events. And I mean emotionally, as the actor had to pause at several points in the retelling in order to collect himself, thereby making it easier to emotionally resonate with his narration. He went into the events after the medical episode, i.e. his recovery and rehabilitation which cause him to at times challenge his faith. It is during this portion we hear him repeat the aforementioned mantra above as he finds the will to battle back and reclaim his position in life.
True to his other comedy specials, Straight Out The Foxxhole and I Might Need Security, his method of stand-up comedy isn’t just jokes and anecdotes. Ever the triple-threat, Foxx interweaves impersonations, such as Katt Williams and Ray Charles, as well as singing into this 68-minute comedy special, the most notable rendition being a duet between him and his youngest daughter, who he credits along with his eldest daughter for helping bring him back to himself. It is another emotionally charged portion of the special.
In summation, Jamie Foxx’s What Had Happen Was is nothing short of a celebration of life for a life that I am glad has not yet come to an end. It gave me a appreciation for my own life, as it showcase the principles that tomorrow isn’t promised and that tragedy doesn’t care who you are or how famous you are. Additionally, the special proved something that I already knew but I didn’t mind being reminded of: that Jamie Foxx, despite all the glitz and glamour, remains among one of the most humble and authentic people in Hollywood.
