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“That Could’ve Been Me”: Jamie Foxx Breaks Down at BET Awards
Jamie Foxx made a powerful return to the stage at the 2025 BET Awards, where he accepted the Ultimate Icon Award in front of a star-studded crowd — and his family. Presented by Stevie Wonder, the tribute and award marked a full-circle moment for the Oscar-winning actor and musician, who nearly lost his life in 2023 due to a serious health scare.
Foxx was visibly emotional as he watched performances in his honor by Babyface, Jennifer Hudson, and T-Pain. Hudson’s rendition of “I Got a Woman” especially hit home, causing Foxx to tear up in his seat. After the musical segment, Stevie Wonder returned to present the award, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd as Foxx took the mic.
“When I saw that in memoriam, I was like, ‘Man, that could’ve been me,’” Foxx said, holding back tears as his daughters Corinne and Anelise sat front row. “I have so much love to give.”
The actor then reflected on his recovery journey and thanked those who stood by him — including his sister, Deidra Dixon, and both daughters. Corinne, 31, helped protect her dad’s privacy while he was hospitalized, and Anelise, 16, played guitar at his bedside to help regulate his vitals. “It was God in that guitar,” Foxx said.
Despite the heavy emotions, Foxx made space for laughter, breaking out impressions of Wanda from “In Living Color”, singing a few lines as Willie Beamen from “Any Given Sunday”, and even joking with Stevie Wonder.
Inside Jamie Foxx’s Stroke, Memory Loss and Road to Recovery
During his speech, Foxx didn’t shy away from what he’s been through. He suffered a stroke in April 2023 while filming “Back in Action” in Atlanta. What started as a headache quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency. His sister drove him to Piedmont Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a brain bleed and rushed him into surgery.
Foxx later revealed he lost 20 days of memory and woke up in a wheelchair with no idea what had happened. “Jamie Foxx don’t get strokes,” he remembered saying. But it was real — and it changed everything.
He spent weeks in rehab in Chicago, relearning how to walk, talk, and work again. He described the process as humbling but transformative. By the end of that year, he returned to work, resumed filming, and even walked Corinne down the aisle at her wedding in October — something she called “incredibly special” given all they had been through.
Fans React to Foxx’s Emotional Speech and Daughters’ Support
Foxx’s speech didn’t just move the audience in the room — it struck a chord online, too. One fan wrote, “You can see the pain in his daughters still. So glad he won that fight.” Another added, “I’m so glad he’s here to get his flowers. He’s a legend.”
BET shared the speech on Instagram with a tribute caption calling him “an artist who uses his platform to uplift communities and spark change.” The comments were flooded with love. “Soooo happy we still have you with us @iamjamiefoxx,” one viewer wrote. “Continuing to pray for you and your family.”
Foxx closed out his speech by sharing what the experience has taught him. “I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance, I’m not gonna turn down.”
