Social media, in the scheme of things, hasn’t existed for that long. Yet with its ever-expanding growth and universal popularity, it has intrinsically woven its way into the fabric of everything. And I mean everything, including its influence on what it means to be a part of Hollywood today. With that sentiment in mind, one of Tinseltown’s best, Jamie Foxx, weighed in on the stark realities of being a celeb presently and how brutal a roasting online can be.
While the A-lister has fully recovered from his 2023 ‘medical complication’ that turned out to be a brain bleed that led to a stroke, he’s made his way back to Hollywood. With a few titles already released on the 2025 movie guide, he chatted with BET’s Immersed series to reflect on his health, career and legacy. When asked if any part of his public life hasn’t been enjoyable, Foxx jumped in with some advantageous advice, especially for present-day standards. Via the YouTube page he shared:
I tell people all the time, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ Because I’m a gregarious dude, and I just want to have fun, and sometimes people would take advantage of that. Especially in today’s world now, where everything is looked at, everything is looked at.
Foxx recently returning to stand up.
Hulu subscription.) He also noted that he believes in the power of social media but understands that it can upend anything, in his words:
I talk about how fame is not necessarily fun anymore. Back in the day, fame was cool but, now, it’s kind of [cringes]. It’s tough, and what’s crazy is everything that you’re doing could be negated in one post. So it’s an interesting — I think social media is good, right? But it’s also super dangerous. And anything you think it is, it ain’t.
The shift Foxx is referring to is quite an interesting one and seemed to change more dramatically as social media gained traction. The advancement is really a double-edged sword.
Finishing the thought, the Django Unchained alum shared some humorous but humbling parts of posting online. He added that the comment section is the most dangerous place of all for anyone with a large following, as he said:
You ever take that picture, you think you finna’ get the likes? You be like, ‘Damn!’ They be like, ‘Man, if you don’t get your forehead, teeth and hairline out.’ … Don’t read them comments! They gonna come and tear your ass up!’ ‘Man, shut up! You look like your breath stink!’ It ain’t ever what you thought. I did a whole photoshoot, [fans] didn’t like none of that shit. I said, ‘Damn, what I gotta do?’
Yikes. Online communities really take some liberties on stars’ pages (I’m a non-comment section person if I can help it). Hopefully amid the unexpected and outlandish critiques across the internet, there are good moments too. Foxx did get some online love after receiving the BET Ultimate Icon Award by way of LeBron James giving him his virtual flowers.
It’ll be interesting to see if the pitfalls of working in Hollywood will continue to develop alongside the ever-changing social media landscape. Foxx and co. I’m sure would love to see it change if it means no longer getting roasted as regularly.