Lil Jon has revealed the childhood accident behind his signature sunglasses. The rapper shares the painful experience in his upcoming memoir. His story details lasting eye damage, multiple surgeries, and childhood bullying.
Lil Jon recalls childhood syringe accident, eye surgeries and bullying in his new memoir
The Grammy winner, whose real name is Jonathan Smith, was six when the accident happened. He watched his diabetic mother, Carrie, take insulin injections throughout his childhood. One day, his curiosity led to a serious accident. Lil Jon shares the experience in his upcoming memoir, I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me.
As per a report by Page Six, he took one of his mother’s syringes and tried feeling air against his eye. Instead, he accidentally stabbed himself with the needle. Doctors later diagnosed a “traumatic cataract from the needle.”
The eye injury required multiple surgeries, including a corneal transplant. He also had to wear a metal eye patch at school, making him a target for bullying. Speaking to People, he recalled, “I definitely was teased in school.”
“At that age if somebody’s different, they’re going to pick on you,” he added. The teasing made him shy, but he remained determined to prove people wrong. He said he wanted to “always prove people wrong.”
As an adult, Lil Jon developed a lazy eye because of the childhood injury. He underwent another operation to help correct the connection. However, he still regularly wears sunglasses.
The rapper explained how criticism ultimately motivated him. “Whenever people have put me down,” he said, “I used that as fuel in my fire to excel.” His experiences helped shape his determination to overcome obstacles.
Before the accident, Lil Jon had learned to play drums and discovered his love for music. He refused to let the injury derail his ambitions. “I got to figure out how to pave my way no matter what,” he shared.
He added, “I got to prove people wrong.” His upcoming memoir, I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me, explores the experiences behind his resilience. The book releases Tuesday.
