August Alsina had a good reason for missing a 2019 Essence Festival gig in his hometown of New Orleans. The R&B singer revealed he was hospitalized after waking up one day without the ability to walk.
“I couldn’t feel my legs,” he said in an Instagram video posted Monday (July 8). “My doctor ended up admitting me into the hospital, doing a bunch of tests. He said I have some nerve damage going on throughout my whole body that I have to go into a recovery process for. It’s like my immune system just went on vacation.”
Alsina also wrote about the situation in the post’s caption.
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“I’m here with the stitch & to also apologize for not being able to make the essence fest gig last night,” he explained. “I take my career & your time very seriously & the fact that you guys show up for me, endlessly. Means the world! I’m man down right now, & figured I should share.. that My auto immune disease is raging, but im fighting this thing & on my mission to shake back & beable to make it up to you! I got so much NEW NEW to share w/ you!!!..& Big Love to give.”
He added, “Big Life, Big Dreams & every peaceful thing to you! Less stress, More Love, More Rest, & Jah Bless. know that HE’s got you even when it all feels too complex.”
In a 2017 interview with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Alsina disclosed his battle with a liver disease that affects his immune system.
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“I have a liver disease where my autoimmune system is fighting against itself,” he noted. “Reality is I’m sick all the time. I’d really like to talk about it, and I’m not looking for anybody’s sympathy. Don’t treat me like I’m a fucking cancer patient because I’m not.”
Alsina was scheduled to perform Sunday night (July 7) at an Essence After Dark event at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans.
