The Scariest Celebrity Health Battles Of 2023

Even though they often seem untouchable, celebrities aren’t immune to health scares. And in 2023, quite a few of our favorite celebrities fells victims to some pretty scary diseases and conditions. We’ve compiled a list of the scariest celebrity health battles we’ve seen in 2023, along with some updates on each of the celebs. Keep reading for more information.

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Ozzy Osbourne — Parkinson’s Disease

Even though he was diagnosed way back in 2003, Ozzy Osbourne only publicly revealed that he has Parkinson’s Disease in 2020 during an interview on Good Morning America. Parkinson’s Disease affects the central nervous system, and the most common symptoms of the disease are tremors, especially in the hands. Though he has lived with the disease for a long time now, this year, Ozzy had to cancel all 2023 tour dates due to his health condition, but his wife, Sharon, is optimistic that he will be up and performing on stage in 2024.

Click here to read more about Ozzy’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

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Celine Dion — Stiff Person Syndrome

Nearly a year ago, Celine Dion revealed that she’d been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a very rare neurological condition that causes spasms and muscle rigidity. Only 1 out of every 1M people develop this condition, and unfortunately, there is no known cure. In May of this year, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer made the difficult decision to cancel all of her tour dates through 2024.

“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again,” she wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram. “I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%.”

“Even though it breaks my heart,” she continued, “it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again. I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!”

Click here to read more about Celine’s battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.

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Bruce Willis — Frontotemporal Dementia

Bruce Willis was originally diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, but in early 2023, he received a more specific—and more daunting—diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia, or FTD. FTD is a form of dementia that affects people under the age of 60 more so than any other age group, and there is no known cure. Since being diagnosed, his family has been very open about his battle with the disease.

FTD has left the Die Hard actor with decreased language processing and communication abilities, and members of his family have revealed that he’s “not totally verbal.” But, his family has also brought a lot of awareness to the disease, helping more people find answers in a diagnosis and showing them that they are not alone.

Click here to read more about Bruce’s battle with FTD.

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Wendy Williams — Graves’ Disease

Wendy Williams revealed her battle with Graves’ Disease, an immune system disorder, in February of 2018. Graves’ Disease causes hypothyroidism, which can cause puffy eyes, anxiety, tremors, heat sensitivity, and weight loss. This revelation came after she fainted on camera on an episode of The Wendy Williams Show, which immediately raised concerns from lots of fans.

She explained that she hadn’t been looking out for her own health in the years prior to her diagnosis, explaining that she was focusing more on her family rather than her own health. But, since being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease, she said, “I’m not doing that anymore. Wendy first.”

Click here to read more about Wendy’s battle with Graves’ Disease.

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Toby Keith — Stomach Cancer

The country star was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021, and subsequently had to take a step back from performing. However, he took back the stage in the summer of 2023, and in a November interview with Taste of Country, he revealed that he’s done with chemotherapy and is “feeling good.” Yay for Toby Keith!

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Bella Hadid — Lyme Disease

Bella Hadid was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2012, and has been living with it ever since. Lyme disease, in serious cases, can cause numbness, pain, nerve paralysis, and meningitis. In an Instagram post from August, the model shared a lengthy message about her battle with the disease: “I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life, this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, co-infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I’m able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, for the first time ever.”

She also shared a number of pictures from hospital stays and during her recovery, and told fans, “I’ll be back when I’m ready, I miss you all so much, I love you all so much.”

Click here to read more about Bella’s battle with Lyme Disease.

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Jeremy Renner — Snowplow Accident

On New Year’s Day, actor Jeremy Renner was involved in a pretty serious accident. He was trying to stop a snow-removal tractor from hitting his nephew when he was pulled under the vehicle and crushed, leading to a 2 week+ hospital stay and more than 30 broken bones plus a collapsed lung.

In November, the Avengers: Endgame actor shared an update of him running uphill, marking 10 months of recovery. “First attempt at any of this activity (especially at steep grade) and was brought to tears of joy, hopefulness, and gratitude for all your support along with my family and friends… I keep pushing for many reasons, but you are my fuel.”

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Madonna — Bacterial Infection

On June 24th Madonna was hospitalized after a serious bacterial infection, causing her to reschedule her upcoming tour dates to October, rather than its initial start date of July 15th. When her tour did begin, Madonna addressed the audience and told them, “I didn’t think I was going to make it, neither did my doctors. That’s why I woke up with all my children sitting around me.”

On a later tour date, she told fans that she is still recovering both mentally and physically, but some experts think the “Like A Virgin” singer might’ve faked this health scare.

Click here to read more about Madonna’s health scare.

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Simon Cowell — Bike Accident

Simon Cowell shared an update this year on how he’s recovering from his multiple bike accidents over the past three years. In 2020, he fell off his bike and broke his back in 3 different areas, which required a 6 hour surgery. He fell off his bike again in 2022, which resulted in a broken arm and a lost tooth. However, as much as bikes have proved to be bad luck for the X Factor creator, he still loves riding them. “I’m obsessed with these things,” he said.

As a result of the accidents, he has some long-term nerve damage, but other than that, has made a full recovery. Yay, Simon!