'I'm still here': Jeremih speaks out on Instagram for the first time since COVID-19 diagnosis
Jeremih is speaking out for the first time on social media since his COVID-19 diagnosis and thanking his fans for the well wishes.
The 33-year-old R&B artist shared two photos of himself to Instagram Wednesday: a selfie from what appears to be a hospital bed and an action shot of him getting his hair cut.
"THANK GOD IM STILL HERE," Jeremih captioned the post adding the hashtag #imbackkkk. "THANK YA’LL FOR THE 🙏🏾 UP."
The "U 2 Luv" artist was discharged after battling COVID-19 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, according to Billboard and NBC. He is currently recovering at home, and gave his thanks to hospital workers in a statement Saturday, according to the outlets.
"First and foremost, I would like to thank God and the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for saving my life. I will be forever grateful," the singer said in the statement to the outlets. "I will be forever grateful. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all their prayers and well wishes. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude."
Paste BN has reached out to Jeremih's representatives.
He also thanked "Chance The Rapper, 50 Cent and Diddy for their love and support." Last month, the rappers rallied behind him on social media in support.
On Nov. 22, the artist was transferred out of the ICU to a regular hospital room to continue healing.
In an interview with ABC7 Chicago, which reports the singer was transferred after being taken off a ventilator, Jeremih's mother, Gwenda Starling, shared her sense of relief.
"I get so teary-eyed but I get so joyful at the same time because he's pulling through," she said. "We've been praying that he can be home by Thanksgiving. It may be a bit much to ask God, but I figure we've been asking for everything else."
TMZ, Entertainment Tonight and Billboard also received a statement from a family spokesperson about the singer's health development last month.
"Jeremih has been transferred out of ICU. He will spend the rest of his recovery time in a regular hospital room," the statement read. "The true healing begins. Thank you all for your continued prayers and wishes."
Starling also shared the toughest challenges in Jeremih's battle with the virus, which has kept him in a Chicago hospital since Nov. 5, according to the outlet.
"Things seemed like, all of a sudden, to attack his body," she described. "That virus viciously attacked every organ in his body. His body was shutting down and they were telling me every day for a week that he just wasn't getting better."
Contributing: Sara M Moniuszko