Comedian DL Hughley hospitalized after passing out on stage during Nashville Juneteenth stand-up gig
Actor, comedian, and former CNN anchor DL Hughley collapsed on Friday night, June 19, on stage in Nashville, Tennessee, while performing.
Hughley, performing at the Zanies Nashville Comedy Club, paused during his set. He then reportedly began slurring and leaning on his stool. Per Deadline, the staff sensed trouble and rushed to his aid. But before they could get there, Hughley collapsed and hit the floor. He was reportedly carried off stage by several staff members into his dressing room. An announcer instructed the audience to, “Stay calm. We’ve got it all under control.”
On Twitter, multiple users posted videos from the scene.
The 57-year-old was reportedly suffering from exhaustion after working and traveling during the week, publicist Yvette Shearer said. He was kept overnight in a hospital for tests under the doctor's order.
Hughley’s representative told TMZ, “[He] was suffering from exhaustion after all the week’s work and travel, and was kept overnight at the hospital for tests under doctor’s orders. He is awake and feeling better, and wishes to thank everyone for the very kind prayer and thoughts.”
Hughley's set, per PopCulture.com, was a part of a virtual fundraiser that he was hosting in honor of Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African-Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.
The event reportedly promoted the message of Black empowerment and education, while also raising money to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. The event featured appearances from Anthony Anderson, Master P, TLC, Snoop Dogg, and a slew of other celebrities.
Hughley's set, ‘Juneteenth Social Awareness-Thon’, was raising money for Master Growers' “Clean Hands for All” mission to help deliver bottles of hand sanitizer to inner cities. The founders of Master Growers, said in a statement about this event, “We just can't sit on our hands and watch our communities suffer. Health and safety shouldn't differentiate based on color or economic status. ‘Clean Hands For All’ is our motto, and we're going to do our very best to hold true to that.”
Hughley is best known as the host of BET’s ‘ComicView’, ‘The Hughleys’, ‘The Original Kings of Comedy’, ‘The Fix’, ‘The Comedy Get Down’, ‘Match Game’, and ‘Heartbeat’.