Samuel L. Jackson’s Terrifying NYC Scare

Witnessing your own obituary in Times Square is one thing, but Samuel L. Jackson opted for a front-row seat to mortality last month. The screen legend confessed to People Magazine that on June 2, he nearly found himself on the wrong side of a New York City cab. Jackson, who was stepping out of his parked SUV near Sixth Avenue, says a speeding yellow taxi clipped the rear bumper so aggressively it reminded him of a Michael Bay stunt—minus the blockbuster payoff.

He shared the harrowing details on the red carpet at the Cannes press junket, then spilled even more tea in a Variety profile: the cab clipped his tire with such force that Jackson thought, “I might as well rewrite my will before my latte gets cold.” Paramedics arrived fast enough to give him that extra dramatic flair only city EMTs can deliver, slapped him with an “all clear,” and sent him on his way with a bruise and a free reminder not to jaywalk during rush hour.

Despite the minor injuries, Jackson couldn’t resist quipping, “New York drivers must think I’m the human pinball.” His Bentley took the worst of it, sporting enough dents to qualify as avant-garde art. Yet Jackson insisted he wasn’t hurt—unless you count his ego, which tumbled harder than the taxi’s bumper. He even joked about filing insurance under “Acts of Manhattan Godzilla” for maximum payout.

Between 15 years of blockbuster mayhem and that one close call on a Midtown sidewalk, Jackson claims he’s developed “a sixth sense for imminent doom.” He’s not scheduling any more coffee runs before checking the F-train schedule—or maybe he’ll just teleport next time. Variety noted his trademark humor remained intact despite the scare, pointing out that Jackson spent more time making cab drivers nervous than they made him nervous.

If there’s one lesson here, it’s that an Oscar-nominated actor can still be outmaneuvered by a guy who just passed the taxi test. Jackson’s takeaway? “Be more frightened by New York rush hour than any supervillain.” And if you need a final punchline: this near-death encounter didn’t bother him as much as the extra dollar the cabbie charged for “peak traffic.”

Let’s call it a day with one final truth bomb: the real danger in New York might just be your commute. Tune in next time for more celebrity calamities and questionable life choices.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Variety.

Sources: People Magazine, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed