D.L. Hughley has revealed he tested positive for COVID-19, one day after collapsing on-stage during a comedy show in Nashville, Tennessee.
The comedian posted a video on Instagram Saturday night, saying he received the diagnosis after a series of tests at Nashville’s Saint Thomas Hospital.
“I was what they call asymptomatic,” Hughley said in the video. “I didn’t have flu-like symptoms, I didn’t have shortness of breath, I didn’t have difficulty breathing, I didn’t have a cough, I didn’t have a low grade fever. I still don’t have a fever. I didn’t have a loss of smell or taste, apparently I just lost consciousness.”
Hughley, 57, added that he was suffering from “extreme exhaustion and dehydration” when he began to slur his words and then slumped to the floor during a stand-up routine at Zanies Comedy Club.
Friday was his second night performing at the club. Video posted on Twitter of Hughley passing out showed people in the audience expressing concern.
“Well thank you for your prayers and your well wishes and a few more of them wouldn’t hurt, so hopefully I won’t develop symptoms. Maybe this is as bad as it gets,” Hughley said, adding that he was getting ready to leave the hospital.
“I am going back to my hotel room to quarantine for 14 days,” he explained.
The comedian is best known for starring in the ABC comedy series The Hughleys. He also appeared in Spike Lee’s 2000 film, The Original Kings of Comedy, alongside Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey and the late Bernie Mac.
