The Reason Fans Are Worried About Chadwick Boseman

Many fans expressed concern for Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman after a curious video of him surfaced via Instagram on April 15, 2020. The clip in question started innocently enough, with Boseman paying homage to a famous baseball player. "It's Jackie Robinson Day," he said. "That's right. It's still Jackie Robinson Day." Fans might remember that Boseman played Jackie Robinson in the 2013 biopic, 42.

Boseman then announced "Operation 42," a partnership that will honor Robinson with a donation of $4.2 million in protective medical equipment to hospitals in need due to the coronavirus pandemic. "I can't think of a better time to remember my hero and the hero of many of you out there, than this time that we're in, this pandemic," he said. 

The sizable donation will go to hospitals serving African American communities, as Boseman noted. "The statistics for COVID-19 have shown that the African-American community has been hit the hardest, the Latino community has been hit the hardest," the South Carolina native elaborated. "And that's partially because we're the front line workers. We're the ones still going to work, we're the ones still driving the buses. In the hospitals and in the medical field, we're the EMTs, we're the ones who are going to battle every day."

Although this initiative is amazing, Boseman's announcement was somewhat overshadowed with concerns about his appearance. We explain the drama after the jump. 

After Chadwick Boseman shared the wonderful news about "Operation 42," some fans took to social media to comment on his apparent weight loss. It's possible Boseman's transformation occurred after November 2019, which marked his last red carpet appearance, as Us Weekly noted.

Either way, it's clear some of the actor's followers are worried about his health. "Thanks for the generous donation!" one commenter tweeted. "You have a big heart. But, please send out a post addressing the issue of your dramatic weight loss ... it was disturbing to see you looking very thin. Your fans love you dearly and are here to support you!"

Someone else said on Instagram, "I hope he's okay.. he doesn't look well." Meanwhile, another fan had lots of questions. "What is going on with you?" They penned. "The last picture showed you to be very gaunt and extremely thin? Are you preparing for a role? You okay?"

However, one commenter was not here for the weight loss talk. "Chadwick Boseman donates 4.2 million for PPE for hospitals, but all I see are comments about his weight," they chided. "Disgraceful AF. He did a wonderful thing. Focus on that."

If Chadwick Boseman did lose weight for a role, it wouldn't be the first time. Boseman vigorously trained for his gig as Jackie Robinson in 42, telling GQ, "When we were training for 42, we had three and a half months of spring training, and it was two-a-days." He added, "So it was three hours of baseball practice in the morning, and then I would eat and go straight to conditioning sessions. And the sessions were like, I mean, madness, how hard it was."

Boseman also noted how the workouts took a toll on his body, explaining, "You're in ninety-plus-degree weather all day, and you gotta steal the base fifty times in a row and slide right every time — I definitely had some moments stealing the bases when my body was like, 'That's it for the day!' That's it."

Of course, we can't say for certain whether Boseman is preparing for a role. And if he is, it's not necessarily anyone's business. 

Chadwick Boseman seems to push the physical limits of endurance for every role he takes on, a commitment that's tied to his acting philosophy. "It is a lot of work, but the physicality is a key way into the character," he told Train Magazine about preparing for Black Panther. "You definitely have to tighten up the diet and the workouts. It just becomes a part of your day-to-life and a part of your lifestyle."

He continued, "And sticking with the regimented diet and exercise routine, harnessing Black Panther's physicality, that's as important as his psychology and motivations and his accent. It informs so much. For anyone that's ever trained in martial arts, you know how it feels when you get into a groove of things. That physical ability informs and provides an internal strength, it's this quiet strength that is so key to Black Panther."

As for Boseman's upcoming roles, he's set to appear in the 2020 TV series, The Black Child, and Black Panther II, which is scheduled for a 2022 release.