Jenifer Lewis Hits Red Carpet Two Years After Near Fatal Fall

The legendary Jenifer Lewis of Black-ish fame is again to being her really fabulous self. Talking on the purple carpet premiere of her upcoming movie, Spellbound, the 69-year-old activist and Jackie’s Again! star celebrated her tenacity and energy following a near-fatal fall throughout a go to to Africa in 2022.

Lewis, nicknamed “The Mom of Black Hollywood,” first shared particulars of the harrowing accident with ABC Information in March of this 12 months.

What was meant to be “a visit of a lifetime” with shut pal Laurie Petok quickly took a harmful flip when Lewis fell off the deck of a lodge within the Serengeti that wasn’t correctly sectioned off for defense.

“When the solar units within the Serengeti, there aren’t any road lights. It is pitch black,” Lewis defined, as reported by PEOPLE. “I used to be escorted to the lodge, my room, however I wasn’t given a tour. I ought to have been given a tour.”

An infinity pool on the deck caught Lewis’ consideration and he or she determined to take a better look. With no warning posted outdoors, Lewis couldn’t see the opening in a nook of the deck. She then fell 10 ft right into a boulder-filled ravine.

“There was an area that was not sectioned off,” Lewis famous, “and there was no signal that stated, ‘Warning, 10-foot drop.’”

In ache and shock, Lewis known as for Petok to assist. With a flashlight, she was capable of finding the injured Lewis – however she additionally discovered extra potential hazard by way of the wild animals simply ft away from her injured pal.

“When Laurie ran to get assist, I heard a lion roar,” she recalled with a chuckle. “My final thought, as a result of I am Jenifer Lewis, was ‘What a headline! The King Ate the Queen: Items of Jenifer Lewis’ Physique Is Being Flown Again to the States.’”

Fortunately, a crew from Docs With Borders was in a position to get to Jenifer earlier than the animals may. They in the end had her airlifted to a hospital in Kenya for remedy.

“As I laid in that helicopter, I used to be out and in of consciousness and all I may hear was my soul screaming, ‘No matter that is Jenny, you will come again. For those who’re respiratory, you will come again,’” she informed PEOPLE.

On the premiere of Spellbound, the resilient Ms. Lewis spoke to Entertainment Tonight and proclaimed her return in a means that solely she may.

“The restoration course of was unbelievable,” she informed the movie star information staple final Tuesday. “I discovered a lot [about myself]. My girlfriend stated, ‘While you fell 10 ft within the Serengeti, it didn’t occur to you, it occurred for you.’ And I guarantee you [all], I’m stronger than ever – so, be careful!”

Lewis attributes her therapeutic course of to taking good care of her physique and her unbreakable spirit.

“Due to being an alpha feminine my complete life, my soul didn’t know find out how to not come again [from the fall]. They stated nobody over 30 may come again from this damage and not using a limp,” she stated.

With a smirk, she continued, “Did you actually assume I used to be gonna limp on this purple carpet? I don’t assume so!”

In closing, she remarked, “Pay attention – the b-tch is again!”

One month after her Good Morning America look, Lewis graced our tv screens as soon as once more, albeit disguised.

Within the eighth episode of The Masked Singer’s eleventh season again in April, the Broadway diva was unmasked because the expertise inside Cleocatra (sure, that will be a cat dressed as Cleopatra). Talking to the viewers following her elimination, as Billboard shared, Jenifer defined that the present was an effective way to assist her step again into the highlight.

“Pay attention guys, I took an extended break,” Jenifer famous. “When [The Masked Singer] known as, I stated I haven’t been on stage singing for a very long time. So, I stated c’mon, let’s go. And it was enjoyable, I had a blast.”

As she typically does, Lewis shared a phrase of knowledge with the viewers earlier than taking her go away.

“You’re [all] so younger and also you’re so lovely,” she declared with a mom’s contact. “Handle yourselves. And be loving to 1 one other, you hear me? That’s what I need for you.”

Coincidentally, one other star from Black-ish, Marsai Martin, participated in the latest cycle of The Masked Singer.

As Life & Style notes, the 20-year-old, showing because the Woodpecker, was eradicated within the third episode. Lewis, who performed Marsai’s grandmother on Black-ish, was introduced again early within the episode as “Cleocatra” to be Marsai’s Masked Ambassador.

Following the younger actress and producer’s elimination from the competitors, Lewis met up with Marsai backstage for the primary time since her fall.

“I didn’t even acknowledge you,” an emotional Lewis informed Marsai earlier than embracing her. “You have been this little [when I last saw you], child.”