The reason Morgan Freeman was seen wearing a black glove on his left hand is linked to a 2008 car accident that left him with permanent nerve damage.
Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
At the 97th Academy Awards, Morgan Freeman introduced the In Memoriam segment but what caught the attention of the viewers was the black glove he wore on his left hand. Although Freeman kept his hands clasped behind his back during the segment, the standout detail didn’t go unnoticed by the viewers.
The reason behind this choice goes back to a car accident in 2008 that left him with permanent nerve damage. The injury resulted in paralysis in his hand and over the years, he has also suffered from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes severe pain. As per the reports, the actor’s car had flipped multiple times on a Mississippi highway.
Speaking to Esquire magazine, Freeman once explained, “That’s where it gets so bad. Excruciating.”
This isn’t the first time Freeman has been seen wearing the glove in his one hand. He previously wore an elbow-length glove at the 2023 Oscars while presenting alongside Margot Robbie. He was also seen wearing it in his recent role in the series Special Ops: Lioness.
In 2010, he shared that wearing a compression glove helps with circulation and prevents swelling. “I suffered nerve damage and it hasn’t gotten better. I can’t move it. If you don’t move your hand, it will swell up. Do you know you move your hand about a million times a day?” he told People magazine.
At this year’s Oscars, Freeman remembered his longtime friend and fellow Oscar-winning actor, Gene Hackman, who died at the age of 95. Hackman was found dead, along with his wife and dogs, just days before the ceremony.
While speaking about Hackman, with whom he had worked in Unforgiven and Under Suspicion, Freeman shared, “This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman.”
He also recalled Hackman’s dedication towards his work, saying, “I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learnt he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.”
“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.’ I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend,” he added.
The In Memoriam segment honoured several legendary figures from the film industry including James Earl Jones, David Lynch, Maggie Smith and Donald Sutherland.
