Childish Gambino has shared details about a challenging year marked by health issues, including a stroke he suffered while on tour.
During his performance at Tyler, The Creator’s “Camp Flog Gnaw” festival in Los Angeles last weekend, Donald Glover opened up for the first time about the stroke, as well as being diagnosed with a heart condition and dealing with a broken foot.
He recounted the experience, saying: “I was doing this world tour and having lots of fun. Really loved seeing you guys out there. And I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway. I couldn’t really see well. So when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.’”
Glover added a bit of humor, saying he initially joked to himself about “still copying Jamie Foxx” in reference to the actor’s widely reported health scare earlier in 2023.
However, he admitted the stroke brought feelings of guilt: “That’s really like the second thing — the first thing was, ‘I’m letting everybody down.’ I know it’s not true, but I’ve broken my foot. I’ve always promised Ireland I’m gonna be there and I still haven’t been.”
Gambino also revealed that doctors discovered a hole in his heart, which required him to undergo two surgeries. Reflecting on these life-threatening challenges, he offered the audience some heartfelt perspective.
“They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realize you have one,” he told the crowd. “You got one life, guys. And I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing. I love seeing and performing for you guys.”
Childish Gambino reveals that he had a stroke and a hole was found in his heart and is why he had to stop his tour pic.twitter.com/YxeQYBWDBA
— Dat (@DatDaDatty) November 23, 2025
