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In his Netflix comedy special Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… released on December 19, comedian and actor Jamie Foxx became emotional as he spoke about the remarkable strength and bravery of his younger sister, Deidra Dixon.
Dixon was by his side when he suddenly fell ill on April 11, 2023, later revealing that he had suffered a brain bleed that led to a severe stroke.
In the special, Foxx, 56, expressed deep gratitude to his sister, Deidra, for “saving” his life after he collapsed following a severe headache. The They Cloned Tyrone star recalled how Deidra tirelessly drove around Atlanta, “aimlessly” searching for medical help after the first doctor he saw dismissed his symptoms, sending him home with only a cortisone shot despite his critical condition.
“She didn’t really know where the hospital was, but as she was driving around, she came up on Piedmont Hospital. Give it up for Pied,” he told the audience as they burst into applause. “What’s interesting about it is that as she drove around, she didn’t know anything about Piedmont Hospital, but she had a hunch that some angels were in there.”
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Miraculously, doctors at Piedmont discovered the actor’s brain bleeding and sprung into action to save Foxx. Throughout his procedure, the Hollywood vet revealed that his sister stood outside the operating room praying for his swift recovery.
“Here’s the thing: When you dream about what you want to be in life, you don’t dream tragedy,” the Jamie Foxx Showalum continued. “You dream everything is good. I got the life. I got the cars. I got all that. You don’t dream that something must go wrong, but when something does go wrong, you need a sister, 4-foot-11, full of nothing but love.”
Foxx revealed that he spent “20 days” unconscious, only regaining consciousness in May 2023. After recovering from the incident, the Ray actor vowed to the audience that he would be “living” life to the fullest.
Deidra wasn’t the only family member who held Foxx down during his scary health battle.
His eldest daughter, Corinne Marie Foxx, also stepped in to help. In a candid explanation of why he stayed out of the public eye for so long, Foxx shared that his daughter made the executive decision to keep him away from media attention because he was so disoriented and dizzy that his head would uncontrollably bob. Corinne was especially concerned that people might turn his vulnerability into an internet meme if seen in this condition.
Foxx paid tribute to the duo on Instagram in a post shared on Dec. 4. The video captured the comedian, Deidra, and Corinne huddling in for a prayer backstage before Foxx took to the stage.
“When you dream about what you’re going to be, you don’t dream tragedy… you dream, the lights, the camera, and the action… But when tragedy happens, you really need family you can lean on,” Foxx captioned the emotional clip.
“The people in this clip put their lives in neutral to make sure I could continue to live and dream… @corinnefoxx mybaby @frequency11 my sister 4 foot 11 of nothing but pure LOVE … and my rock. @davebrownusa my friend and pastorthey made sure I got back to business.”
Deidra reposted the sweet video with a caption that read, “YOU ARE DEFINITELY MY ROCK!!!! I LOVE YOU. @corinnefoxx I love you ‘IT’S JUST US’ Forever.”
Corinne also shared an eye-watering tribute to her father on Wednesday shortly after the Netflix special’s release, writing, “I couldn’t be more proud of you @iamjamiefoxx. You created light from darkness. You turned tragedy into comedy. You shared your truth, your story in the most beautiful and honest way. I will never forget those months of uncertainty and recovery.”
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