Emotional Jamie Foxx revealed he ‘saw the tunnel but not the light’ as he opened up about his near-death experience for his first public appearance since his shock health scare at the Critics Choice Association’s event on Monday evening.

The actor, 55, who was also attending his first event since being accused of sexual assault, was visibly moved as he accepted the Vanguard Award in a 12 minute speech at the association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements in Los Angeles.

Foxx admitted that he could not ‘walk’ six months earlier, via Deadline, though he refrained from revealing too many details about the medical crisis that put him in the hospital.

‘You know, it’s crazy, I couldn’t do that six months ago,’ he said after strutting across the stage to the microphone. ‘I couldn’t actually walk.’

‘I want to thanks everybody. I’ve been through something, I’ve been through some things,’ he said to thunderous applause.

I cherish every single minute now — it’s different,’ he continued. ‘I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over … when you see the tunnel. I saw the tunnel — I didn’t see the light.

‘It was hot in that tunnel too, I don’t know where I was going. ‘S**t, am I going to the right place?’” 

In his 12-minute speech, he also made light of some of the baseless conspiracy theories that spread while he was hospitalized and then out of the public eye for several months. 

‘I’m not a clone, I’m not a clone. I know a lot of people who was saying I was cloned out there.’

‘I have a new respect for life. I have a new respect for my art,’ he added toward the end of his speech.

Foxx also shared his praise and thanks for his family, including his sister and daughter, for how they had helped to care for him while he was recuperating. 

It’s unclear if Foxx will be returning to shoot additional scenes for his film Back In Action, which continued film with Diaz and stand-ins filling in for him.

Foxx was given his award at the start of the show, but unlike the rest of the recipients, his honor was not announced ahead of time

He also told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday: ‘I have a new respect for life, I have a new respect for my art. I watched so many movies and listened to so many songs trying to have the time go by.

‘ Don’t give up on your art, man, don’t give up on your art. When you realize that it could be over like that… I got to tell you don’t give up on your art and don’t let them take the art from you either.”

 Although Foxx has been spotted several times since his shocking hospitalization while filming Back In Action with Cameron Diaz in April, this marked his first official public appearance.

The event also featured honors for Eva Longoria, Past Lives star Greta Lee, Abbot Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph and May December star Charles Melton, among many others.

Foxx’s award was announced by the actress Jurnee Smollett, who costarred with him in The Burial.

He arrived looking dapper in a classic black tuxedo. He posed afterward with Smollett and his award, but he opted to skip the red carpet earlier in the evening.

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