Jamie Foxx gives his most complete performance yet in ‘What Had Happened Was’

Jamie Foxx is one of the great renaissance men of our time. He’s a singer, actor, and comedian who can put it all into a complete entertainment package. But one underrated gift in Foxx’s possession is his ability to tell a story. Just watch any of his viral interviews and you’ll see a man who can craft a tale of suspense, joy and goose bumps with only a microphone at his disposal. It’s that gift that makes his return to the public eye in his latest Netflix special, What Had Happened Was, his true stand-up masterpiece. For an hour, Foxx gives us one of the more vulnerable looks at a star we’ll ever see and his art excels because of it.

In April 2023, Foxx suffered a medical emergency. The incident was shrouded in mystery as Foxx’s family circled around him and kept him out of the public eye. The headlines and rumors were as bizarre as they were alarming. Some outlets and bloggers claimed he was brain-dead and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his condition. Others indicated that he had died and had been cloned in secret. No matter what anyone believed, Foxx’s health situation felt dire at the very least. Ultimately, in his special, Foxx explained he had a stroke caused by a brain bleed.

It’s clear that Foxx has emerged from that traumatic episode a changed man. Throughout his career, he’s used comedy and his overwhelming talent to keep fans enamored, but at arm’s length, never sharing too much about his life. Foxx has always been an excellent performer, cracking jokes to lighten the mood or getting behind the piano to really flex his skills. Even though we’ve followed his whole career, Foxx has maintained the aura of an otherworldly entity by virtue of his immense talent. But immediately upon hitting the stage for his stand-up special in Atlanta, a few blocks away from the hospital that saved his life, Foxx shows up as a humble, thankful man. He showed up as himself.

It only takes a few seconds into What Had Happened Was for Foxx to break down in tears, overwhelmed by what was once impossible: walking again, let alone performing. And he basks in that moment in front of a crowd full of Black folks who would later recite all the reasons they’ve come to love him, from his Wanda Wayne character on In Living Color and his Oscar-winning portrayal of singer-songwriter Ray Charles to his hook on Twista’s hit “Slow Jamz.” By the time Foxx slumps back onto his stool a few minutes into the show, giving himself a pep talk to get through his material, it’s clear that we are in for something more than a comedy special.

But the comedy is there. Foxx has always known something that his superstar comedian peers have forgotten: The best comedy doesn’t punch down. For most of Foxx’s career, he’s understood this. His most memorable stand-up moments are usually aimed at other celebrities, mostly in the form of impersonations and behind-the-scenes stories about everyone from rapper and actor LL Cool J to hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The latter gets lambasted throughout What Had Happened Was for the allegations of sexual misconduct that have become the defining story of Combs’ career.

Still, Foxx’s most frequent target in his comedy has always been himself. In the past he’s poked fun at himself for being knocked out by LL Cool J on the set of Any Given Sunday, for his infatuation with Prince, and his failed attempts at sex. That comedic self-flagellation allows Foxx to tell uncomfortable truths about his body and brain betraying him and his road to recovery. From talking about being bathed by nurses to finding his sex drive again and taking his first steps after his stroke, Foxx’s comfort with being his own punch line paved the way for the vulnerability that makes his special feel so intimate.

Foxx’s willingness to take us on a ride through his lows makes the moments of triumph hit home that much harder. He gushed about the strength of his sister, Deidra Dixon, who insisted that doctors give him the proper medical care to save his life. He spoke about the love of his daughters, Corinne and Anelise, and how Anelise, the youngest, played the guitar for him to stabilize him while he was in the hospital. And he recalled his uncomfortable conversations with God about why he had to go through such a difficult time. In those moments, Foxx may have been short on jokes, but he didn’t leave many dry eyes in the audience.

The last 25 minutes of the special are less stand-up and more of a triumphant celebration for Foxx. He sings a duet with Anelise, runs down his career accomplishments, and sings praise songs. It’s as much a showcase of Foxx’s bottomless skillset as it is the culmination of his return to health.

The overarching message of the special goes beyond Foxx’s struggles. His refrain that he had to be funny to stay alive is a reminder that laughter is survival. As we are faced with personal and global tragedies, Foxx reminds us of the very Black tradition of using laughter to live to see another day. It’s the gift he’s given us his entire career, but even he, at the worst moments of his life, needed that reminder as well.

In What Had Happened Was Foxx gave us something that transcended a stand-up special. It was a spiritual journey of music, comedy, drama and honesty. It’s the work of a star who’s accumulated more wealth and fame than most of us will ever see, choosing to love his fans enough to give us more of him than we have any right to ask. As a result, we get a special that reunites us with a generationally talented unicorn who has decided to finally be his most human self, and in the process give us the best, most complete work of his sprawling career.