Sterling K. Brown Postpones Surgery for Torn Achilles Heel So He Can Be at the Emmys to Support ‘Paradise’ Costars

Sterling K. Brown is prioritizing this year’s Emmys over his own health to celebrate with his costars. 

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 49-year-old actor revealed that he had a painful incident in which he tore his Achilles heel, but that his surgery will have to wait because he wants to be there for his Paradise cast mates. 

“It’s ya boy SKB, coming to you right now because I know I’m gonna have to have this conversation a bunch of times with a bunch of people. So hopefully, this will sort of condense the number of times that I’ll have to share some unfortunate news,” he said in a lengthy Instagram video posted to his account. 

Brown reassured viewers that his news wasn’t “horrible, but unfortunate.” 

“Ya boy just tore his Achilles tendon,” he said, explaining that the “recovery can take a little bit of time.”

The This Is Us alum admitted he was being “athletic” at the time of the injury, but it was nothing he deemed “super dangerous.” After simply taking “a step,” Brown said it “felt like somebody stomped on the back of my heel.”

Without realizing what had happened, he demanded an apology and wanted to know who it was who caused the pain, but was quickly told no one had been close enough to him to do so. 

Laughing it off, Brown said, “The injuries where nobody touches you are usually, probably the most serious ones.”

“So, [I] gotta have surgery,” he said, adding, “Gonna do it after the Emmys so I can motivate myself and go and try to celebrate with my cast and the producers of Paradise because we got recognized.”

Brown stars as Agent Xavier Collins in the political drama that “is set in a serene community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high-stakes investigation unfolds,” per a synopsis.

The Washington Black actor said that while it will be “nice to be out there,” it will feel different being physically limited due to his injury. 

“Most people who know me, if I’m not going to an event, I’m usually wearing some sort of athleisure wear or what-have-you, so if a game breaks out, Brown is ready,” he said, smiling. “I got cleats in the back of the car.”

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He gave his update from his bed, watching football and reading, “doing everything to keep my spirits up.”

Paradise, which also stars James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson and Sarah Shahi, has been nominated for four Emmys: Brown for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series, Nicholson for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series, Marsden for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series, and the show itself for Outstanding Drama Series.

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards air on CBS and Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 14. Meanwhile, season 1 of Paradise is streaming on Hulu.