Why Sterling K. Brown Is Postponing His Surgery to Attend 2025 Emmys

Sterling K. Brown is not letting anything stop him from supporting his fellow Paradise costars at the 2025 Emmy Awards.

In an Instagram video shared on Tuesday, September 9, Brown, 49, explained that he had sustained an on-set injury while filming season 2 of Hulu’s Paradise but still plans to attend this year’s ceremony.

“Good morning everyone, afternoon, evening, depending on where you are in the world right now. It’s your boy SKB,” he said in the clip. “Coming to you now because I know I’m going to 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 I’ll have to share some unfortunate news. Not horrible news, but unfortunate.”

Brown explained that he “tore his Achilles tendon,” which is on the “back of the foot.”

“For the folks that know sports, they know that recovery can take a little bit of time,” he revealed in the video. “Doing something athletic, as I’m prone to do, and not even super dangerous or anything. Just took a step and it felt like somebody stomped on the back of my heel.”

Since he believed that someone had stepped on his foot, the This Is Us alum said he kept asking people on set, “‘Who stepped on me? Who stepped on me?’”

“They’re like, ‘What you talking about man?’ I was like, ‘Somebody stepped on the back of my foot. Somebody just tell me they stepped on the back of my foot and apologize!'” he shared while laughing. “They’re like, ‘Nobody stepped on the back of your foot, bro.’ That’s what I knew. I was like, ‘Ah, biscuits.’”

Brown noted that “injuries where no one touches you are probably the most serious ones.”

“So [I] gotta have surgery,” he said before revealing that he plans to “do it after” the 2025 Emmys. “So I can go and I can motivate myself and try to celebrate with my cast and the producers of Paradise because we got recognized. It will be nice to be out there.”

While the actor is ready to “celebrate” with everyone, he shared that getting injured has been difficult for him.

“One of those things when you’re used to using your body a certain way and used to being active,” he said. “Most people that know me, if I’m not going to an event, I’m usually wearing some sort of athleisure wear of what-have-you, so if a game breaks out, Brown is ready. I got cleats in the back of the car.”

Brown said that he is now stuck “in bed” and “watching football.”

“I’m doing some reading. I am doing everything to keep my spirits up, y’all,” he told his followers. “It’s a journey and I have to keep positivity coming your way. … I am receiving all the good vibes and energy that you are sending my way. Appreciate it … I’m telling myself, as I’m telling everybody, ‘This too shall pass.’”

This isn’t the first time Brown has been injured. He revealed that he’s “torn his ACL twice and had two surgeries.”

“I know what the rehab is like. I know what it takes, what it requires. So you just gotta get yourself ready for it. Just get yourself ready to move through,” he said. “It doesn’t kill me, so it’s gonna make me stronger. Obstacles aren’t meant to be avoided, they are meant to be gone through. Strength requires friction.”

Brown concluded his message by “thanking everyone for the positivity.”

“Love you all and if you’re going through anything yourself, this too shall pass,” he said in the video. “You’re going to be alright. I’ll talk to you later.”

Brown is nominated for the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Agent Xavier Collins in Paradise. The Hulu series is also nominated for three other awards this year: Outstanding Drama Series, James Marsden for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and Julianne Nicholson as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.