Additional Coverage:
- Jamie Foxx delivers heartfelt speech at BET Awards thanking daughters who helped his stroke recovery (nbcnews.com)
Emotional Jamie Foxx Accepts Ultimate Icon Award at BET Awards
A tearful Jamie Foxx accepted the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards on June 9th, offering a moving speech that touched on his recent health struggles and the unwavering support of his family. Introduced by music legend Stevie Wonder, Foxx began by expressing gratitude, reflecting on the importance of faith.
The Oscar winner revealed in his recent Netflix special, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…”, that he suffered a stroke following a brain bleed in 2023. At the awards ceremony, Foxx admitted that he’d faced a very real possibility of death, saying, “When I saw that in memoriam, I was like, ‘Man, that could’ve been me.’”
He spoke of his second chance at life with profound emotion, vowing to make the most of it. “I’m not going to turn it down,” he declared, emphasizing his renewed commitment to giving and doing right.
Foxx then turned his attention to his family, thanking his sister, Deidre Dixon, for her unwavering support during his recovery. He credited her with “shutting it down” and ensuring his care.
He also paid tribute to his daughter Corinne, praising her strength and support during the difficult time. Overcome with emotion, he said, “At a certain point, I’m going to stop crying, but I’m not going to stop just yet.”
The actor then shared a particularly poignant story about his younger daughter, Anelise. He recounted how, when his vitals were failing, Anelise snuck into his hospital room and played her guitar for him.
According to Foxx, her music had a miraculous effect, causing his vitals to stabilize. “I realized that God was in that guitar,” he shared, echoing a sentiment from his Netflix special.
Anelise then joined him onstage, sharing a heartfelt embrace.
Concluding his speech, a visibly moved Foxx expressed his deep gratitude for his family, stating that he no longer has to wonder who will be there for him in hard times.