Comedian Bernie Mac has announced that he has a rare and deadly autoimmune disease called sarcoidosis. A representative for Mac stated that tapings of The Bernie Mac Show had been delayed while Mac recovered from a recent attack, but production has continuted.

Initially, a Fox rep said Mac was merely taking a self-imposed hiatus because he was suffering from exhaustion, brought on by his heavy work schedule that included his TV show and the Ocean's Eleven sequel along with the baseball film Mr. 3000 and the upcoming Guess Who, the racially flipped update of the 1967 drama Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, in which he plays a dad upset his daughter wants to marry a white guy. The network later said Mac was suffering from pneumonia.

But now, his spokesperson tells Star that Mac "had double pneumonia which weakened his lungs and his entire immune system, and the sarcoidosis symptoms became pronounced."

Bernie Mac will be creating his own foundation to share awareness of this disease.

While it is horrible that someone has to go through pain and illness before they attempt to affect positive change, its always bitter when celebrities come to the rescue of a cause only after they themselves have faced it personally.

girl_afraid

Milwaukee, WI

November 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:03 PM

The_Gentleman

Katy, TX

April 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:07 PM

No!!!!!!!!!!!!! *watches Original Kings of Comedy*

On a more serious note, this is sad. I hope he gets well and does alot to help others with the disease, whether it's because he has it or not.

dingoes8

Milwaukee, WI

March 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:12 PM

Same thing that Reggie White had? That's pretty strange.

datsun

Richmond, CA

October 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:16 PM

I wouldn't wish that on my enemies, much less someone so talented...

Viola

SUICIDEGIRL

North Carolina, USA

FEB 10, 2005 06:36 PM

Technically, it's not "a bitter irony." Irony is when something happens that is contrary to what would be expected to happen. It's to be expected that a celebrity would set up a foundation to find a cure for a disease they have. So it's not ironic, just really sad. I like Bernie Mac.

This has been an English major moment with Professor Interrobang.

Koenigsegg

I'm lost

July 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:40 PM

christopher said:
While it is horrible that someone has to go through pain and illness before they attempt to affect positive change, its always a bitter irony that celebrities come to the rescue of a cause only after they themselves have faced it personally.

yeah, what an asshole. i was hospitalized with otitis media for several weeks when i was an infant. don't you care about people who have suffered from, or currently suffer from, otitis media? because if not, you're very callous and insensitive

FridgeMagnet

Chicago, IL

November 2004

FEB 10, 2005 06:44 PM

Is this the thing that Mick Mars has?

theseeman

Asheville, NC

December 2002

FEB 10, 2005 07:35 PM

Poor Bernie Mac. I love his delivery.

As much as I loathe(kidding) to agree with a UNCCH student I don't think it is irony. I am glad awarness is going to be "she" on the subject.

"Bernie Mac will be creating his own foundation to she awareness to this disease."

edit for a spelling mistake. ironic.

[Edited on Feb 10, 2005 10:36PM]

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI

August 2004

FEB 10, 2005 07:39 PM

While it is horrible that someone has to go through pain and illness before they attempt to affect positive change, its always a bitter irony that celebrities come to the rescue of a cause only after they themselves have faced it personally.

Yeah, what a bunch of fucking bitches. Trying to help people, it makes me fucking sick!

battlin_albright

Dayton, OH

June 2004

FEB 10, 2005 07:46 PM

I had a friend in high school whose mother had sarcoidosis. It's some nasty shit. I hope he stays healthy. And funny. You need your sense of humor when you're sick.

[Edited on Feb 10, 2005 by Annee]

KMFCM

Peekskill, NY

September 2002

FEB 10, 2005 08:03 PM

shit. . .

Sydni

SUICIDEGIRL

Washington, USA

FEB 10, 2005 08:04 PM

that sucks.

kosomot

Pompano Beach, FL

November 2003

FEB 10, 2005 08:17 PM

I like B. Mac

Mythicus

Lawnside, NJ

May 2004

FEB 10, 2005 08:25 PM

PsychoMagnet said:
Is this the thing that Mick Mars has?

Mick has had ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic degenerative disease, ever since his teens. AS is a painful, progressive, rheumatic disease in which some or all of the joints and bones of the spine fuse together. It mainly affects the spine but it can also affect other joints, tendons and ligaments. Other areas, such as the eyes, lungs, bowel and heart can also be involved. Mick describes it as being a prisoner in his own body.

boxing_helena

Los Angeles, CA

April 2004

FEB 10, 2005 08:31 PM

Maclay

United Kingdom

March 2004

FEB 10, 2005 10:20 PM

I think many, many people are like that, not just celebrities.

SomethingStupid

North Hollywood, CA

March 2004

FEB 10, 2005 11:27 PM

interrobang said:
Technically, it's not "a bitter irony." Irony is when something happens that is contrary to what would be expected to happen. It's to be expected that a celebrity would set up a foundation to find a cure for a disease they have. So it's not ironic, just really sad. I like Bernie Mac.

This has been an English major moment with Professor Interrobang.

Thanks for posting that, because my head almost exploded. And yes, most people are that way. My aunt has taken to going around with a bumpersticker about Lyme Disease, which she is convinced the entire world has now.

Edit: You were really nice about it. I wouldn't have used the word "technically." Technically nothing.

[Edited on Feb 10, 2005 by TedKoppel]

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

FEB 10, 2005 11:31 PM

That sucks ... I love Bernie Mac. His show is fucking hysterical.

crispy

NEWSWIRE

Philadelphia, PA

FEB 10, 2005 11:32 PM

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA

September 2003

FEB 11, 2005 01:35 AM

This is fucking bullshit. Attack someone no one cares about, fucking disease.