Jamie Foxx reflects on his medical emergency in April.
Speaking at the Critics Choice Association Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements in Los Angeles on Monday, Foxx, 55, opened up about his health scare during an emotional acceptance speech.
“I want to thank everyone. I went through something. I’ve been through some stuff,” Foxx said while accepting the Vanguard Award for his performance in the Burial. “It’s crazy, I couldn’t do it six months ago. In fact, I couldn’t even walk…” he added as he was overcome with emotion.
Jaime Foxx accepts the Vanguard Award.
Leon Bennett/Getty
Jamie Foxx channels Tiger Woods as he hits the golf course 6 months after medical emergency
Showing his appreciation for life, Foxx said: “It feels good to be here. I appreciate every minute now. It’s different. It’s different.”
“I wouldn’t wish what I went through even on my worst enemy, because it’s hard when it’s almost… When it’s almost over, when you see the tunnel,” he continued.
“I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light!”, he joked afterwards. “It was hot in that tunnel, so I didn’t know where I was going. S—, am I going to the right place? I saw the devil say ‘Come now.’ ”
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Jaime Foxx accepts the Vanguard Award.
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Jamie Foxx goes out for dinner in Santa Monica more than 6 months after his medical emergency
In another lighter moment, Foxx assured the audience that he was also not a clone, despite previous rumours.
“I know many people who said that I was cloned. Man, you ain’t s—,” he joked.
“Black people, when we’re about to die or going through something like that, there’s two phrases, one of two phrases that we say,” Foxx continued. “One is: ‘Lord, have mercy, Jesus. Lord, have mercy, Jesus.’ ”
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“My sister and my daughter were so great about not letting anyone know anything that happened,” he added of his family’s support before acknowledging celebrity friends in the audience including Lenny Kravitz, Fantasia and Taraji P Henson and said “you need someone like that in your corner.”
After thanking the team behind Burial, Foxx ended his speech by saying, “I want to say that six months ago I could not have imagined that this could happen or that I would be here, but as I walk up here to this microphone and receive this Vanguard Award, all I can say is ‘Mr. , have mercy, Jesus’. ”
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Source: HIS Education