You’ve seen the clips. Jamie Foxx drops his chin, shakes his head with that rhythmic, soulful vibration, and suddenly he isn't the guy from Ray or Django Unchained anymore. He's Stevie.
But here’s the thing: the connection between Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder isn't just about a world-class impression. It’s a decades-deep friendship that involves Mike Tyson scares, legendary roasts, and a very specific type of "blind man" humor that only two icons of this caliber could get away with.
That Hilarious "We Aren’t Besties" Moment
The 2025 BET Awards was a heavy night. Jamie Foxx was there to receive the Ultimate Icon Award, a moment that felt particularly weightful after his 2023 health scare. When Stevie Wonder walked out to present the award, the room basically lost it.
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Stevie, being the king of the dry wit, didn't go for the Hallmark card vibe. He looked toward Jamie (well, in his direction) and told the crowd, "Jamie hit me up a lot of times because of his win for Ray... and I said, 'Jamie, just because you played a blind man, that don’t mean that we’re besties, okay?'"
The audience erupted. It was the kind of roast that only comes from real love. Jamie, visibly moved and still wiping away tears from a tribute video, couldn't help but laugh. It’s that dynamic—half reverence, half "I’m going to make fun of you to your face"—that defines them.
The Mike Tyson Incident: When Stevie Almost Ran
One of the best stories Jamie Foxx tells involves a party, Mike Tyson, and a very confused Stevie Wonder. Jamie recounts a night where Mike Tyson was particularly "on edge." Tyson was apparently annoyed by Sisqó's "Thong Song"—of all things—and was letting the whole room know it in that high-pitched, terrifying way only Iron Mike can.
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Stevie Wonder, caught in the middle of the tension, could hear the chaos but couldn't see the source. Jamie describes Stevie’s reaction as a "notion to just flee." According to Jamie’s retelling on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Stevie was basically bumping into things trying to find the exit because he heard Mike "swinging" (or at least sounding like it).
Jamie had to step in. "Stevie, sit down, it ain't cool! You don't want to catch one!"
It’s a ridiculous image. You have the greatest songwriter of all time trying to navigate a room to avoid a heavyweight champion, while a future Oscar winner acts as the air traffic controller.
Beyond the Jokes: A Real Musical Bond
People forget Jamie Foxx is a classically trained pianist. He didn't just "fake it" in the movie Ray; he actually played with Ray Charles during the audition process to prove he had the chops. That musicality is what earned him Stevie’s respect early on.
Key Moments in Their Friendship
- Oprah’s 25th Anniversary: They performed "Isn't She Lovely" together, a moment where Stevie publicly validated Jamie not just as an actor or a comedian, but as a peer in music.
- The "Stevell" Roast: Jamie famously roasted Elton John’s tribute to Stevie Wonder, joking that Elton called him "Stevell" and didn't quite have the "stank" on the vocals. Stevie loved it.
- The 2024 Recovery: When Jamie was recovering from his brain bleed, Stevie was one of the voices in his ear, encouraging him to "do right" with his second chance.
Honestly, Jamie’s Stevie Wonder impression is probably the most famous one in Hollywood. But if you watch them together, you realize Jamie isn't just "doing" Stevie. He’s studying him. The way Stevie moves his head isn't just a quirk; it’s how he hears the room. Jamie captured that nuance because he spent the time actually being in the room with the man.
Why Their Connection Still Matters
In a world of fake Hollywood friendships, this one feels lived-in. When Jamie Foxx stood on that stage in 2025, crying about how close he came to "being in the In Memoriam segment," it was Stevie Wonder holding the award.
Stevie told him, "I knew from the moment I heard you sing that you had so much more." That’s high praise from a man who has heard everything.
It’s easy to focus on the comedy. Jamie’s "Stevie voice" is objectively funny. But the underlying truth is that Stevie Wonder saw a younger artist with a massive ego and even bigger talent, and he decided to mentor him—mostly by making fun of him.
Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you want to see the "masterclass" of this relationship, don't just look for the BET clips. Go back and find Jamie’s early stand-up specials where he breaks down the "anatomy" of a Stevie Wonder song. It’s a deep dive into music theory disguised as a comedy bit.
To really appreciate the bond between Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder, you have to look at their 2025 reunion. It wasn't about the "Icon" title; it was about two guys who survived the industry—and in Jamie’s case, literally survived—and can still find the joke in the dark.
Check out the footage of the "Isn't She Lovely" duet if you want to see Jamie actually nervous for once in his life. It’s one of the few times you’ll see the most confident man in Hollywood look like a kid in the presence of his hero.
Next time you hear Jamie Foxx break out that familiar vibrato, remember it’s not just a skit. It’s a tribute to a guy who told him to sit down so he wouldn't get hit by Mike Tyson.
Next Steps for You
You can watch the full 2025 BET Awards tribute to see the emotional exchange between them, or look up Jamie Foxx's Netflix special What Had Happened Was for his detailed account of the health crisis that led to that big onstage reunion.