Donald Glover Reveals Stroke Forced Him to Cancel 2024 World Tour

Donald Glover, an actor and rapper who performs under the stage name Childish Gambino,  revealed why he was unexpectedly forced to cancel the remainder of his “New World Tour,” saying he suffered a stroke and other health challenges while on the road last year.

Glover, 42, discussed the medical setbacks he faced in September 2024 during a performance at the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles on Nov. 22.

“I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway. I couldn’t really see well,” the musician said in footage of the concert that was shared online. “So when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital, and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.'”

Blurry vision and headaches are common symptoms of strokes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Those suffering from the medical emergency can also experience trouble speaking, confusion, dizziness, memory loss, and seizures, among a host of other symptoms.

Strokes, which are the second leading cause of death around the world, are caused when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced. They are more common in people 65 and older, but can occur at any age.

Glover, who is known for Grammy-winning songs such as “Redbone” and This Is America,” said doctors subsequently discovered a hole in his heart.

“I had this surgery, and then I had to have another surgery,” he said, noting that he had broken his foot around the same time.

“So they say everybody has two lives, and the second life starts when you realize you have one. You got one life, guys,” Glover said. “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.”

The rapper kicked off his “New World Tour” in August 2024 in support of his album “Bando Stone & the New World,” which marked his final project under the moniker Childish Gambino.

Glover performed 18 shows of the tour before announcing in early September that he was postponing the rest of his North American stops “to focus on [his] physical health.”

However, the following month, he revealed he was cancelling all of the remaining concert dates on his world tour, noting that “an ailment had become apparent.”

“As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal,” he penned at the time. “My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously.”

Glover got his start in the entertainment industry in the aughts as a writer for comedian Tina Fey’s sitcom “30 Rock.”

The actor is perhaps best known for his role in the television series “Atlanta” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” as well as the films “The Martian” (2015) and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017).