Jamie Foxx accepts the Ultimate Icon Award during the 2025 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The award presentation included a surprise appearance and musical performance from music legend Stevie Wonder, who presented the Award for Artistic Excellence to Foxx. The emotional moment for the groundbreaking actor and musician marked a historic milestone. This success is especially significant given the incredible challenges of the last year.
As Jamie Foxx presented the award, he did justice to the occasion, getting emotional with Michelle Yeoh’s historic win. He reflected on his journey, saying, “At a certain point, I’m gonna stop crying.” This sentiment resonated deeply with the audience as he recounted his experiences since suffering a stroke in April 2023, caused by a brain bleed. In the wake of the crash, Foxx remained in the hospital for a month and dealt with short-term memory loss for around 20 days.
Foxx’s speech was roundly characterized by personal tributes to his career, including an allusion to his most well-known roles. He shared fond stories about his characters Wanda from In Living Color and Willie Beaman from Any Given Sunday. He was unashamed in the way he let us experience his musical genius. Specifically, he pointed to his work on the smash hit “Gold Digger” with Kanye West in 2005.
His thanks went out to the Black community, who have lifted him up during both his professional career and personal journey. Don’t doubt Foxx’s passionate highlight of that support within the speech, either. He gave a very moving tribute to his two grown daughters, Corinne, 31, and Anelise, 16. His thanks for the love they provided him was enough to make her cry as well.
In perhaps the most touching moment of the evening, Foxx expressed gratitude to his younger sister Deidra Dixon for her steadfast support throughout his recovery. He remarked, “She made sure that she took care of her brother,” highlighting the significance of family during challenging times.
During the presentation, Stevie Wonder lauded Foxx’s perseverance and their decades-long friendship. “Jamie and I go waaaay back,” he stated, underscoring their bond that spans years of shared experiences in the entertainment industry.
