You've probably seen the videos. You know the ones—Martin Lawrence looking a little slow on a red carpet, or Will Smith seemingly guiding him by the hand during a Bad Boys: Ride or Die promo stop. It sent the internet into a full-blown tailspin. People were genuinely worried, whispering about strokes or neurological issues. Honestly, it was a bit of a mess. But here we are in 2026, and the "Marty Mar" story is looking a lot different than the doom-and-gloom TikToks predicted.
Basically, Martin is busy. Like, "first-major-tour-in-eight-years" busy.
If you're wondering what's happening now with Martin Lawrence, the short answer is he’s currently crisscrossing the country for his Y'all STILL Know What It Is! tour. Just this week, he's taking the stage at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland. He isn't sitting in a hospital bed; he's telling jokes to thousands of people.
The Health Rumors: What Was Actually Going On?
Let's address the elephant in the room. That viral clip from the 2024 premiere where Will Smith was holding Martin’s hand? It looked concerning. I get it. Martin looked stiff. His speech in a few interviews seemed a bit more deliberate than the hyper-energetic "Sheneneh" days of the 90s.
Martin eventually had to get on Hot 97 with Ebro Darden to tell everyone to just chill out.
"I’m healthy as hell. Stop the rumors!"
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That was his direct quote. He chalked the "unsteady" look up to being overwhelmed by the massive crowds—comparing it to a "rock concert" atmosphere—and simply being 59 years old. We have to remember that Martin has a history here. Back in 1996, he was hospitalized for exhaustion and dehydration after a very public episode in LA traffic. Then in 1999, he literally slipped into a three-day coma after collapsing from heat exhaustion while jogging in a plastic suit.
When you have that kind of medical history, people are going to watch you like a hawk. But his 2025 and 2026 performance schedule suggests he’s got the stamina to keep going. He's been doing these sets for over an hour at a time. If he were in the kind of dire shape people claimed, he wouldn't be hitting arenas in Gary, Indiana, and Fort Lauderdale back-to-back.
The "Martin" Colorism Debate Just Won't Die
Even though he's back on stage, Martin is still answering for things he did thirty years ago. Just a few days ago, on January 13, 2026, he had to respond to some heavy criticism regarding his iconic 90s sitcom.
Singer Ari Lennox went on social media recently and talked about how the jokes aimed at Tichina Arnold’s character, Pam, really bothered her growing up. She felt they were rooted in colorism—Martin constantly making fun of Pam’s appearance despite her being a beautiful dark-skinned woman.
Martin didn't dodge it. He told Fox DC that there was "no malicious intent." To him, it was just the way Black people joke with each other—going hard and "keeping it real." He acknowledged Lennox has a right to her opinion, but he’s not apologizing for the comedy that made the show a classic. It’s a nuanced conversation. On one hand, the chemistry between Martin and Tichina was legendary. On the other, the "Pam" jokes haven't necessarily aged well for a new generation of viewers.
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Is Bad Boys 5 Actually Happening?
This is what everyone really wants to know. Bad Boys: Ride or Die was a massive hit. It proved that despite the "Oscar Slap" and the health rumors, people still want to see Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.
So, what’s the status?
Sony is definitely talking about it. Martin has been pretty vocal, saying he thinks they "gotta give you five." He's mentioned that while he and Will haven't sat down to map out a script yet, the studio is crunching the numbers and looking at ideas.
- The "International" Idea: There’s been talk from the directors (Adil & Bilall) about taking the duo out of Miami. London? Seoul? Somewhere that forces Marcus even further out of his comfort zone.
- The Retirement Angle: Marcus was already flirting with retirement in the last two movies. A fifth film would likely have to deal with the reality of these guys getting older. You can't run through explosions forever.
The reality of what's happening now with Martin Lawrence in Hollywood is that he's currently in a "wait and see" period for the big-budget stuff while he focuses on his first love: stand-up.
Where You Can See Him Next
If you want to judge his health for yourself, you can literally go buy a ticket. He’s currently in the middle of a heavy tour block.
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- January 15-16, 2026: MGM National Harbor, MD.
- January 17, 2026: The Dome, Virginia Beach.
- January 23, 2026: Hard Rock Live, Rockford, IL.
- March 2026: He heads down to Florida for shows in Hollywood and Tampa.
Reviews from the late 2025 shows have been mostly positive. People say he’s "still got it," though some fans have complained about the sets being a bit shorter than they used to be—usually around 45 to 60 minutes. But hey, at 60 years old, that’s a solid shift.
Making Sense of the Legacy
Martin Lawrence occupies a weird space in 2026. He’s a legend, a survivor, and still a massive draw. He’s not the frantic, high-speed performer he was in You So Crazy (1994). He’s slower. His voice is a bit raspier. But he’s still here.
What's happening now is a transition. He's moving from being the "wild guy" of comedy to the elder statesman. He’s defending his past work, enjoying his massive franchise success, and proving the "health crisis" rumors wrong by simply showing up to work.
If you’re a fan, the best thing to do is ignore the 15-second "concern" clips on social media. They don't give the full picture. The full picture is a man who has been through the ringer of Hollywood and health scares and is still choosing to stand under a spotlight.
Practical Steps for Fans:
- Verify Tour Dates: Only use official sites like Ticketmaster or MartinLawrenceOnTour.com to avoid the rampant resale scams appearing this year.
- Watch the Specials: If you can't make the tour, his classic specials on Netflix are still the best way to understand his comedic timing before seeing the new, more mature material.
- Stay Tuned for Sony Announcements: Keep an eye on official Sony Pictures press releases rather than "leaked" trailer channels on YouTube, which are almost entirely AI-generated fakes right now.
The man is fine. He's just aging, just like the rest of us. And he's doing it while making a few million dollars a night to tell jokes. That sounds like a pretty good "now" to me.