Actor Omar Gooding shared an alarming video on Instagram from his hospital bed on Sunday, March 29, after getting into what he described was a “bad” car accident.
The 49-year-old, whose many credits include starring on the hit 90s sitcom “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” said he was sleeping in the backseat of a vehicle at the time of impact. Gooding explained how he sustained a hangman’s neck fracture but will thankfully not have to undergo surgery.
According to WebMD, a hangman’s fracture is a “break in the second vertebra of your neck, called the C2, or axis.” The bone forms a ring around the spinal cord and is commonly injured in car accidents, diving incidents or contact sports.
Omar Gooding Fractures His Neck in Car Accident
“Alright, alright — there will not be a clone of me. I’m good,” Gooding said as he recorded himself in his hospital gown and neck brace. “No surgery, thank Jesus. I’m gonna start doing seatbelt commercials. Everybody wants to send me something; send me one of them seatbelt commercial ads ‘cause I sure wouldn’t be here without one. Woo! I’ll be back soon, guys. Stay blessed.”
The “Baby Boy” actor elaborated further in the caption of his video about his accident, saying that doctors told him he will need three months to recover.
“Yes, I was in a bad accident. No I did not break my neck… completely. Hangman’s fracture is what they call it. GOD IS GOOD. I was in the back seat sleeping on my way to the airport and YES I had my seatbelt on or it would have been worse,” Gooding wrote. “I am making this post so that yall can stop calling and asking what happened ! I need to keep my phone on so family can reach me. Not sure how long I will be hospitalized. I will be updating my website with my show dates but my doc is saying 3 months of recovery time so l will see yall in time for the summer! Stay BLESSED! And tell a loved one you love them .. TODAY.”
Omar Gooding Says He’s in ‘a Lot of Pain’
Gooding shared a second Instagram video from his hospital bed to let his fans and loved ones know that despite his high spirits, he’s in immense pain and won’t be able to respond to those who are checking in on him.
“I don’t want none of this upbeatness to fool y’all. I’m [expletive] up in a lot of pain!” he exclaimed with a charming wink. “So stop calling me. Thank you all. I love you all. But don’t see this message or hear about this [expletive] and start calling me. It hurts to talk. It hurts to laugh. I’m holding this phone still.”
As Gooding continued, he rolled his eyes to the right and left, saying, “This is my movement right now. This here — this is it. The nurse was just in here… and the pain shot through.”
Gooding went on to reiterate that he won’t be responding to his loved ones for at least three months. “Stop calling my phone! I don’t read texts, so y’all aren’t getting the part where… I’m letting you all know this so that you don’t call me or text me,” he said. “Wait three months and then call me… I love y’all. I’ll be fine, but right now, I’m in pain. Leave me alone.”
Gooding captioned his video by thanking his fans for their support and encouragement as he heads into recovery. “THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE LOVE!!! Now let me heal please,” he wrote. “This [expetive] HURTS. But I’m tuff. [expletive] get they necks broke every day B .. I’ll be aight. 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 I don’t wanna block yall!! I needs my sleeps!! 😘😘.”
