Donald Glover Says Stroke Forced Him to Cancel Last Year’s Childish Gambino Tour

Donald Glover revealed during a Nov. 22 performance at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles that doctors told him he had experienced a stroke — the health emergency that prompted last year’s tour cancellations.

Performing under the stage name Childish Gambino, Glover explained that he first felt an intense headache while in Louisiana and continued to perform. After the next stop in Houston he sought medical attention, and physicians informed him that he had suffered a stroke.

Glover said the episode left him feeling as though he’d let fans down. He also disclosed that doctors discovered a defect in his heart and that he subsequently underwent two surgeries to address the issue.

Reflecting on the experience, Glover told the audience that facing a serious health scare reshaped his outlook. “They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realize you have one,” he said, emphasizing how the episode has reframed his priorities.

Representatives for Glover had not immediately replied to requests for comment.

When he canceled dates in October 2024, Glover issued a brief statement explaining that after a show in New Orleans he traveled to Houston for evaluation and was advised to postpone performances while he prepared for surgery and recovery. At that time he described the issue only as an “ailment” and said he needed time to heal.

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