Stephen Fry falls six feet off stage, taken to hospital for injuries
Fall FILE PHOTO: MCC president Stephen Fry prior to Day Two of the LV= Insurance Ashes 2nd Test match between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 29, 2023 in London, England. Fry fell after speaking at a technology conference last week. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Actor Stephen Fry was taken to a London hospital after he fell about six feet from the stage at the O2 venue, several media outlets are reporting.
Fry was speaking at the technology conference CogX Festival when he fell, People magazine reported.
He had been “giving his inspirational speech about the impact of AI,” a spokesman for the event told the publication while confirming what happened.
The incident, which happened last week, according to the Evening Standard, was first reported by The Daily Mail. The tabloid reported that Fry suffered injuries to his leg and ribs.
Fry was speaking about how his voice was recreated by artificial intelligence by using his readings of the seven “Harry Potter” novels.
“From that dataset, an AI of my voice was created and it made that new narration” that had been used for a historical documentary. Fry said did not give permission for his voice to be used.
“I’m a proud member of [actors’ union SAG-AFTRA]. As you know, we’ve been on strike for three months now. And one of the burning issues is AI,” Fry said according to Variety.
Neither Fry nor his representatives have responded to multiple requests for comment, according to NME, People and the Standard.
CogX Festival organizers have released a statement saying that they’re “deeply concerned” about Fry, adding, “We are thinking of him and wishing him a swift recovery.”
The statement also said, “We have opened our own enquiry and until then we are not able to share any further details,” People magazine reported.
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson on stage in Farmyard Follies, a comedy fundraising show at the London Palladium produced by Charity Projects in support of their own projects and the Home Farm Trust on February 18, 1985 in London, England. (Photo by Comic Relief/Comic Relief via Getty Images) (Comic Relief/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Through the years Picture shows Huge Laurie (left) and Stephen Fry (right) Fry and Laurie are a successful English comedy double act, mostly active in the 1980s and 1990s. Photo taken - 29th January 1987. (Photo by Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) (Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Stephen Fry in a unit still from the filming of the BBC television series 'Blackadder Goes Forth', September 1989. (Photo by Chris Ridley/Radio Times via Getty Images) (Radio Times/Radio Times via Getty Images)
Through the years Comic actors (L-R) Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Kevin McNally and Fiona Gillies in a hospital sketch from the BBC television series 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie', March 22nd 1994. (Photo by Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images) (Radio Times/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Stephen Fry and Kristin Scott Thomas appear in a scene from the film "Gosford Park." (Photo by Chicagofilms/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON - JANUARY 19: Stephen Fry announces nominations and details of this year's BAFTA Awards at BAFTA on Januray 19, 2004 in London. (Photo by Steve Finn/Getty Images) (Steve Finn/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON - APRIL 20: (US TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Stephen Fry poses with a Vogon costume from the film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" during the aftershow party following the world premiere at Freemasons Hall on April 20, 2005 in London. The screen adaptation is based on the bestseller by Douglas Adams. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images) (MJ Kim/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Stephen Fry attends a photocall to launch a new campaign 'Get It Off Your Chest' for mental health charity, Mind at Victoria Tower Gardens on May 11, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 08: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, speaks with Stephen Fry, actor at a private reception held at the British Consul-General's residence on July 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The newly married Royal Couple are on the ninth day of their first joint overseas tour. The 12 day visit to North America winds down with a three day visit to Southern California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for British Consul-General-Los Angeles) (Frazer Harrison)
Through the years LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Fry attends the Royal Academy Of Arts Gala Event at the Royal Academy of Arts on October 8, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 02: Actor Stephen Fry attends the premiere of Warner Bros' "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 2, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Presenter Stephen Fry attends the opening night of "Monty Python Live (Mostly)" on July 1, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Stephen Fry poses on stage with a BAFTA mask ahead of the British Academy Film Awards at The Royal Opera House on February 5, 2015 in London, England. The annual BAFTA's will be held on Sunday February 08, 2015. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Stephen Fry (L) and comedien Elliott Spencer attend the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Through the years WINDSOR, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: British comedian and writer Stephen Fry (R) arrives with his husband comedian Elliott Spencer ahead of the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Mr. Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Adrian Dennis - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie at the SeriousFun London Gala 2018 at The Roundhouse on November 6, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty Images for SeriousFun) (Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty Images for S)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Stephen Fry, President of MCC, looks on prior to Day Two of the LV= Insurance Ashes 2nd Test match between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)