Donald Glover Reveals Stroke and Heart Complications Behind Abrupt 2024 Childish Gambino Tour Cancellation

Donald Glover got real with fans at Camp Flog Gnaw 2025, and the reason he canceled his tour is way heavier than anyone expected: he had a stroke, and doctors found a hole in his heart. That is not a sentence I thought I would be typing about Childish Gambino, but here we are.

What actually happened

Glover explained that while he was on the road, he felt a brutal headache during a show in Louisiana. He pushed through anyway, but his vision went sideways. By the time he got to Houston, he finally went to the hospital, and the doctor told him he’d had a stroke. The previously 'undisclosed ailment' behind the tour cancellation? It was that, plus the hole in his heart.

He’s since had the surgery he needed and says he’s in a better place physically and mentally. Sounds like the scare flipped a switch for him.

'They say everybody has two lives, and the second life starts when you realize you have one. You should be living your life how you want. If we have to do this again, it can only get better.'

2024 was rough, period

This wasn’t a one-off health hiccup. Glover said 2024 was a mess for him physically: multiple surgeries, including the heart situation and a broken foot. He also admitted he felt like he let fans down when he pulled the plug on the North American, UK, and European dates. In very Glover fashion, he diffused it with a joke about 'copying' Jamie Foxx, who had his own major health scare in 2023. Dark humor, but it landed.

Flog Gnaw turned into a moment

Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw is always a party, but this turned into something more personal. Glover opened up about the health issues mid-set, let the crowd help pick the songs, and even tossed out the idea that he might put Childish Gambino on the shelf for a while. Not a formal retirement speech, but the vibe had people bracing for it. Fans in the crowd were emotional, and yes, people said the set made them cry. The response after the show was overwhelmingly supportive.

Quick refresher: what is Camp Flog Gnaw?

It’s Tyler’s annual two-day carnival-meets-festival, curated and hosted by him, with a lineup that cuts across genres. This year’s slate included heavy-hitters like Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, and Doechii, plus rising or cult favorites like Blood Orange and Geese.

What it cost to be there

• General Admission (2-day, incl. fees): $774
• VIP (2-day, incl. fees): $779
• Super Seating (2-day, incl. fees): $1,989

Bottom line: after a scary year and some serious surgery, Glover seems locked in on doing things on his own terms. If that means fewer shows or a pause on the Gambino era, tough pill, but health comes first. If it means a reset and a new chapter, even better.

What did you think of Glover’s speech and the set?