“If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.”
These were Jamie Foxx’s words as he returned to the stage for the first time since 2003, giving us one of the best one-man shows of all time, once again reminding us why he quite literally might be the most talented person on the planet. From “I Might Need Security,” to you might need a tissue because he’s back with his joy, his pain, his piano, and the testimony of a lifetime. He shared that Netflix stage with us as more than Jamie Foxx, he was Eric Bishop.
On April 11th, 2023, Foxx suffered a stroke that completely shifted the trajectory of his life. For the next 20 days, which he is unable to remember, his family immediately stepped into high gear to prioritize his peace and privacy surrounding his prognosis. This sparked many questions amongst the public, but the Foxx family was determined to allow Jamie the dignity to control his own narrative and tell his own story when he was ready. And on December 10th 2024, somewhere in between the storytelling of Dave Chapelle, the vulnerability of Jerrod Carmichael, and the talent of Jamie Foxx, came “What Had Happened Was”.
Netflix provided Foxx a platform to take his audience on a journey through how his faith kept him funny and how staying funny kept him alive. The stand-up special is woven with wit and wisdom delivered in a way that only Foxx can. Music. Comedy. Drama. I can’t think of anything Jamie Foxx can’t do. According to Fox, it’s easy to get caught up in the world thinking you’re invincible, but life has a funny way of reminding you who’s in charge. No amount of money, success, or talent can make you superhuman, and even those who seem like they have everything can’t have it all forever.
The practice of prayer is not only personal, but it’s intentional, and the way we talk to God should reflect that. When Jamie talks about his conversations with God, it’s casual and candid. There’s no need to be anyone else but yourself when talking to God, and Jamie does a great job of illustrating how praying isn’t always “proper.” After all, he was given that sense of humor, he didn’t ask for it, so even through trials, trauma, and tribulations, you gon’ get these jokes. Foxx asks God, “Why me? What have I done? What about all the ‘bad’ people who are doing fine?” …… “They don’t belong to me anymore,” is what he heard God whisper to him, “but you do.” And despite a 20-day lapse in his memory, those are the moments that stuck.
His sister and his daughters played a huge role in his recovery, and frankly, may have saved his life. In a world plagued by medical racism and people of color constantly having to advocate for themselves no matter how rich and famous they are, Black bodies are not treated with the same urgency in healthcare as others. Yes, Jamie Foxx was able to afford the best healthcare available, however, the doctor was ready to send him home after administering a simple cortisone shot until his sister DEMANDED a second opinion. One of the most beautiful things about the television special was the way he discussed his children’s impact on his recovery. His oldest daughter, Corinne, had just celebrated her engagement and was planning her upcoming wedding when the comedian had his medical emergency. Foxx says he was motivated by his determination to walk Corinne down the aisle. Meanwhile, his youngest daughter, clinging to God and her guitar, would sit next to his hospital bed, strumming the strings until his pulse was steady again. It was his faith and his family that brought him back to life.
In between testimonies, he weaves his humor in with jokes about the way the public received the news of his condition and the way the internet reacted. He joked about Katt Williams referring to his “mystery illness,” and detailed the emotional reunions when running into industry peers such as T.I. and Halle Berry. There were even theories about possible cult sacrifices and clones floating around on algorithms rooted in conspiracies, but the fact of the matter is, there is only one Jamie Foxx.
The production ended with a live montage of some of our favorite Jamie Foxx characters and impressions, from Wanda to Willie Beamen, and Ray to, “She said she wants some Marvin Gay,” and you know the rest. But Foxx couldn’t leave the stage before he graced us with a musical duet with his youngest daughter Annalise. Everything from the lighting to the location to the lineup all worked cohesively to make this one of the greatest comedy comebacks of all time.
They say stand-up comedy can be one of the hardest and scariest things to do because it requires a level of vulnerability that overpowers fear as well as ego. Some of the funniest comedians also go on to be some of the greatest storytellers and some of the most powerful dramatic actors because their gift is rooted in creating art from experience. Many of them, such as the late Robin Williams, spend their lives trying to fight their own battles and cure themselves by sharing joy with the world and building a legacy of laughter and love. Jamie Foxx is all of the above: an artist in its truest form. This was an experience that used humor as a vessel of healing; a clear example of how laughter truly is the best medicine.
