Morgan Freeman has occasionally appeared in public wearing a glove on his left hand, prompting fan questions about the reason.
The “Million Dollar Baby” star has previously discussed a long-term health issue that permanently reduced his mobility.
Scroll below for more details on his injury.
What Happened to Morgan Freeman’s Hand?
At the 2023 Oscars, Morgan walked onstage with Margot Robbie, who took his left forearm as he introduced a tribute to Warner Bros.’ centennial.
He wore a black glove on his left hand and a black tuxedo, sparking questions on Twitter about the covered hand.
In August 2008, Morgan endured a severe car crash in Mississippi.
His vehicle flipped several times in the fiery wreck, leaving him with a broken arm and a broken shoulder.
The Oscar winner was 71 years old at the time; the injuries have affected him for years afterward.
“I suffered nerve damage, and it hasn’t gotten better. I can’t move it,”
he told People in 2010.
Although he underwent surgery to address the nerve damage, his left hand remains immobile.
The condition forced the Glory actor to adapt, performing daily tasks primarily with his right hand.
“I play one-handed,”
he explained about golf in a July 2012 Esquire interview.
“I swing with my right arm.”
Andrew Sharpless and Morgan Freeman standing side by side
The actor winced through the interview and revealed more about his symptoms.
“It’s the fibromyalgia,”
he said.
“Up and down the arm. That’s where it gets so bad. Excruciating.”
“Fibromyalgia is a ‘disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues,'”
the Mayo Clinic notes.
“The symptoms of the condition ‘often begin after an event such as physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress.'”
Why Does Morgan Freeman Wear a Glove on His Left Hand?
To manage the condition, Morgan frequently wears a compression glove at red carpet events to aid circulation and reduce pain in his left hand.
He first appeared with a glove soon after the 2008 crash.
In later years, he wore a glove at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2018.
In November 2023, a video from New York City showed him with a glove on his left hand as he waved with his right while getting into a car.
The clip went viral on X (formerly Twitter).
Morgan Freeman Wore a Glove at the 2025 Oscars
He also wore a glove when he presented at the 97th Academy Awards in March 2025.
There he honored his late friend Gene Hackman, who had died the month before.
News of Hackman’s death preceded Morgan’s tribute.
“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,”
Morgan began.
“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 learned 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,'”
he continued.
“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.”