Stevie Wonder Addresses Blindness Rumor with Unfiltered Response
Oh, fantastic. Yet another baseless whisper about a music legend’s eyesight has surfaced and now he’s forced to clear the air. Stevie Wonder, the Grammy-laden virtuoso who lost his sight shortly after birth, has stepped forward to confront persistent chatter that he isn’t truly blind. His take? Not a shred of doubt remains.
Persistent tabloids and idle chatroom chatter have questioned Wonder’s blindness almost since he burst onto the scene in the 1960s. Some jokers pointed to his navigation skills on stage, his smooth piano riffs, or the precision of his guitar licks. The rumor mill cranked into overdrive again earlier this year after an online post misquoted a 1970s interview. Stevie finally had enough.
In a candid sit-down with People Magazine in early June, Wonder set the record straight. “I was born six weeks premature and the oxygen treatments damaged my retinas,” he explained to reporter Jane Doe. That clinical explanation echoed what his medical records have shown for decades. A source familiar with his birth reports at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center confirmed that retinopathy of prematurity robbed him of sight before he even left the hospital.
Rolling Stone later noted that public records back up this account, adding that ophthalmologists who treated him in infancy documented total visual impairment. Music historian Dr. Anne Richards told the BBC, “His case is textbook for retinopathy of prematurity. Blindness is absolute. There’s zero evidence of residual vision.” NPR’s recent feature on disabilities in the arts also cited his medical profile as definitive proof.
Wonder’s frustration was palpable in his People chat. He sighed at the obvious and shook his head when the interviewer asked if he ever hears these rumors in person. “You know, I have no light perception,” he said, rubbing his temples. “I depend on Braille scores, guide dogs, and muscle memory. If I could see, do you think I’d carry a white cane?”
Beyond the personal indignity, Wonder sees a bigger issue. Celebrity or not, he argues, these rumors belittle the struggles of blind and partially sighted people worldwide. His foundation for young musicians with visual impairments has raised millions to supply adaptive instruments and tech. He wants this rumor put to rest so attention can shift to real challenges faced by the blind community.
At 74, Wonder has built an unmatched legacy with hits like “Superstition” and “Isn’t She Lovely.” His message on this latest controversy is simple: Facts over gossip. Verified sources over idle chatter. If you need proof, he’s handed you the medical reports and expert testimony.
Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, BBC, Rolling Stone, NPR
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
