IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., was discharged from the hospital after being rushed in an ambulance while in Tokyo on Sunday. The internet personality uploaded a video of himself on a stretcher inside the ambulance, his right eye swollen shut and a bandage wrapped around his head.
“Right now, I’m having one of the worst experiences; I can’t even open up my eyes,” he said, adding he thought he had a cluster headache at the time. “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t do anything right now. It hurts so bad, guys; I can’t do anything, like anything; it just hurts. Everything I do is like something pounding my head every time, and I’m so angry. It just hurts like even now it just hurts.”
In the video, which now has over 4 million views, the 18-year-old said the pain felt like “somebody is stabbing my eye with a knife.”
IShowSpeed initially thought he had to undergo surgery. A day after being taken to the hospital, he shared updates with his followers, notifying them he had undergone an MRI scan and his parents had flown to Japan.
“Every second, I just think I’m going to die ’cause it hurts so bad,” he said. “Just pray for me, please. I’ve never experienced anything like this. My mom and dad have had to fly all the way to Tokyo. Just please pray for me; I’m trying to keep good spirits. I got a few of my friends with me here, but it’s hard to be in the hospital.”
IShowSpeed’s cameraman, who goes by Slipper on social media, shared live updates about the streamer’s state of health. He shared that the YouTuber was discharged from the hospital after suffering a sinus infection that had traveled to his eyelid.
update: speed has went in with sinus-specific doctor to fully confirm that it is only a sinus infection. after that he will be in recovery room taking IV drip before discharging from hospital. thank you everyone for the concerns, i will update again when we leave the hospital 🙏
— slipper (@slipperrz) July 30, 2023
LEAVING THE HOSPITAL SPEED DIDNT DIE THANKFUL FOR AMAZING HEALTHCARE IN TOKYO!! pic.twitter.com/pQHeA7JhDz
— slipper (@slipperrz) July 30, 2023
According to his cameraman, IShowSpeed went back to the hospital after getting discharged to run additional tests. Slipper added the YouTuber requested a laptop, mic and camera setup to keep working while admitted.
His father, Darren Watkins Sr., posted an update on his son’s Snapchat account.
“I’m just giving you all an update on Junior,” he wrote, according to the Hindustan Times. “He is doing much better; he was just not feeling himself. He made sure he got himself taken care of, and I thank all you guys for your concerns and prayers.”
