Donald Glover Reveals Stroke and Heart Condition Led to Recent Tour Cancelation

Summary

• Donald Glover revealed he suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with a congenital hole in his heart, which led to his last tour cancelation

• The artist shared the news during his Camp Flog Gnaw performance, telling the crowd, “The second life starts when you realize you have one”

• The health crisis has profoundly altered his perspective on life and work, forcing him to step away from his busy schedule

Donald Glover has shared a startling and deeply personal health revelation, disclosing that he suffered a stroke and was later diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. The news, which came during his performance at Tyler, the Creator‘s Camp Flog Gnaw on Saturday, confirms that a life-threatening medical event was the reason he abruptly canceled his last planned tour.

The multi-hyphenate artist, known for his work as Childish Gambino and the creator of Atlanta, spoke candidly to the audience, “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.’ And the first thing I thought was like, ‘Oh, here I am still copying Jamie Foxx.’ That’s really like the second thing. The first thing was like, ‘I’m letting everybody down.” He later reflected, “They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realize you have one. You got one life, guys. And I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing…You should be living your life how you want. If we have to do this again, it can only get better.” Glover explained that his stroke, which occurred during a period of immense professional pressure, led to subsequent medical tests where doctors discovered a hole in his heart. The diagnosis required him to undergo a complex procedure to repair the condition.

Glover noted that the stroke occurred shortly after he won an Emmy Award. The health crisis forced him to step away from his busy schedule, including the cancellation of his high-profile tour dates. Now fully recovered, the actor, writer, and musician confirmed that the ordeal has fundamentally altered his perspective on life and work. His return to the stage and the honesty of his sharing mark a profound turning point for the artist, who is now focused on maximizing his creativity and cherishing his newfound clarity. Glover had originally postponed the remaining North American dates of his The New World Tour to focus on his health last September.

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