Prince: "I Was Born Epileptic" (VIDEO)

Prince announced Monday night on PBS' "Tavis Smiley" show that he was born with epilepsy.

"I've never spoken about this before, but I was born epileptic, and I used to have seizures when I was young," he told Smiley. "My mother and father didn't know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had."

Prince continued, telling Smiley about how grateful he is today as he looks back on his emotional childhood:

My mother told me one day I walked into her and said, 'Mom, I'm not gonna be sick anymore.' And she said, 'Why?' I said, 'Because an angel told me so.' Now, I don't remember saying it, that's just what she told me, and from that point on I've been having to deal with a lot of things, getting teased in school. Early in my career I tried to compensate for that by being as flashy as I could and as noisy as I could. I just looked forward to this time in my life when I could reflect back on it, and talk to people like yourself, Dr. Cornel West...when you all come over tot eh house and we sit and we just talk about heavy things, I just become thankful, I don't know.

Watch:

Comments

[DBtv]

Still the greatest.

Lotusflow3r is brilliant.

[OSA23]

the minds without talent have no need to comment about prince.

most of these 'commentators' are as useless as a rush limbaugh radio broadcast: except both rush and these talentless 'commentators' show their ignorance each time they choose to open their mouths and voice their 'opinions' about anything outside of their 'mental capacities'. as pointed out in the comment by kandyjns1, prince has transcended the boundaries and the levels of creativity and musical influences. the majority of the 'brainless idiots' slamming prince seem to have as much talent as roadkill in the middle of a winter's storm.

instead of accusing prince of being 'lost and disconnected' - why not try to develop your own creative talent and then speak about what developing those creative talents has revealed to you in terms of how your realities have become transformed and altered. people who never climbed a mountain shouldn't waste time accusing those who climb mountains to be insane and 'out of their minds'.

[EarthToZoey]

He was born awesome.

*listens to Delirious*

[fugedabodit]

Bro's been smokin somadat angel dust

[LoRiseAntlers]

Once somebody starts with the magic angels BS,it's time to tune them out.

[psychmaj323]

Good Lord Prince is soooo sexy, even if he is only 5'2...

[EarthToZoey]

Amen to that!

[harriettubman]

Height doesn't make the man, it's his personality and what he can do. Prince is a musical genius but a little too feminine for me.

[roch20]

That would explain the hairstyles!!!

[Cacaoatl]

It is important for celebrities to talk about their struggles with various disorders, it helps break down the stigmas attached to them.

[keene]

he's a genius

[athenalong]

That's a BAAAAAD dude.

He's flawless.

His glasses game is BEYOND tight.

[SolomonTheWise]

true dat!

[EarthToZoey]

Ooo, I love a man with stylish glasses.

And his voice is just.... yeah, you know ;)

[brandnewstuff]

Tavis Smiley- Prince- PBS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agD9qVUHrI
A real talented human-
I really enjoy his work

[tango2]

He was born with a brain desorder.

[lemekid]

That brain "desorder" made him a brilliant musician.

[mnyobpres]

Yes! MAN! = words and the past will never change the TRUTH!

[adm4peace]

I am surprised that he did an interview. He rarely does interviews. I remember when he would not talk at all.

[Garioch]

Musical genius, I don't even like his stuff that much but you don't have to like it to know quality when you see it.
Used to put on a stage show second to none as well.