By IOL
GRATEFUL to be alive, the Hollywood icon peeled back the covers on his mystery medical setback in April 2003 with his observational humour intermingled with raw emotions that, at times, left him choked up with emotion.
Of course, there was no better vehicle to share his story than through comedy – his bedrock in the industry.
His Netflix special, “What Had Happened Was…”, saw the award-winning actor, who is also a revered singer, unpack his journey to fans in Atlanta.
Interestingly, he was filming “Back in Action” with Cameron Diaz around the time that the life-changing incident happened.
At the time, his protective eldest daughter Corinne Foxx clamped down on paparazzi by stating that he was hospitalised for a “medical complication”.
Of course, it was only fitting that Corinne introduced her beloved dad on stage for the show.
Counting his blessing, he said: “I’m happy to be alive”.
What made it more special was that his life was saved by a white doctor wearing a Laker’s jersey.
He admitted: “It is a mystery, we still don’t know exactly what happened to me. I was having a bad headache, and I asked my boy for an aspirin. Before I could get the aspirin, I went out. I don’t remember 20 days.
“What they told me was they took me to the first doctor, and they gave me a cortisone shot and sent me home.
“I don’t know if you can do Yelps for doctors but that’s half a star. My sister said ‘No’. Four foot eleven, and full of nothing but love, she said something’s wrong with my brother.”
The tenacity of his sister Deidra Dixon made a huge difference in saving his life as she took him to Piedmont Hospital where Dr Schuette explained that he was having a brain bleed that led to a stroke.
Of course, he addressed the conspiracy theories around his illness, which varied from it being linked to the Covid vaccine to his dying.
There were also whispers of him being poisoned by beleaguered rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Jamie laughed off the intimation.
He responded: “The internet said Puffy tried to kill me. Hell no, I left those parties early. Something don’t look right, it’s slippery in here.”
In his routine, which, at times, veered into a diary session, Jamie revealed how he refused to believe what happened to him. He didn’t want to acknowledge that he couldn’t walk or that he needed personal care.
He also unpacked how the experience led him to reconnect with God, bond with his family and humbled him.
There was a very touching moment when he brought his shy youngest daughter Annelise onto the stage after sharing how she snuck into his room and started playing her guitar, which helped stabilise his vitals.
At the time, it was all over the place and the staff were unsure of how they could get it down.
He called her strumming his “spiritual defibrillator”.
Their short duet on stage left the audience fighting back the tears as it came to light that she was determined to have her father pull through so they could play again.
Jamie also added that he was so blessed to be able to walk Corinne down the aisle a few months back.
While there were solemn moments on the show, Jamie offset the heaviness with jokes about Dave Chappelle, Jay-Z as well as some of the staff who took care of him – one of whom was the one that saw his “pickle” while in rehab.
He also recalled getting a hug from Halle Berry and what it meant to him. Of course, he milked the humour out of their interaction as only he could.
And he also made it very clear that he was not going to be dating white women again. Not sure if Katie Holmes got the memo.
Jamie also flexed his powerful vocals with a playful song.
This comedy special was Jamie setting the record straight, acknowledging the journey and lessons he learned while also reminding the audience of his legacy in the industry.
He added: “I never let go of my sense of humour. If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.”
Ultimately, this comedy special is also a celebration of life. It’s got humour, heartfelt emotion and raw honesty.
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