Johnny Knoxville: Injuries, Career, and the Bam Margera Feud

Johnny Knoxville made a career out of doing things that most people would run from, but after decades of broken bones, concussions, and a brain injury from a bull, the cost of those stunts has become impossible to ignore. This article examines the permanent damage, the end of his stunt career, and the broken friendship with Bam Margera that still haunts both men.

Full name: Philip John Clapp ·
Born: March 11, 1971 ·
Instagram followers: 4.5 million

Four key facts stand out about Knoxville’s life, each tied to a specific time in his career.

What Happened to Johnny Knoxville? Injuries and Health After Jackass

Permanent Injuries from Jackass

• The bull stunt during Jackass Forever caused a concussion, a brain hemorrhage, a broken wrist, and a broken rib, leading to a prolonged hospital stay (Entertainment Weekly).
• Knoxville has said he is medically unable to take head-impact stunts because of his concussion history (Hypebeast).
• He described himself as “way over my limit for concussions” when discussing future stunt limits (Hypebeast).

These injuries have had lasting effects, underscoring the long-term nature of Knoxville’s stunt-related harm (Entertainment Weekly).

The pattern is clear: the physical toll finally caught up with him, and no amount of laughter can reverse that damage.

Does Johnny Knoxville Still Use a Catheter?

The exact status of his bladder issues and catheter dependency remains unclear. While multiple reports have mentioned ongoing bladder problems, no public confirmation from Knoxville or his medical team has been released.

Colostomy Bag Rumors Explained

Many fans have asked whether Knoxville wears a colostomy bag. The answer is not publicly confirmed. Some online speculation suggests a temporary colostomy bag was used after a stunt, but no credible source has verified this claim. It remains in the realm of rumor.

Who Sustained the Worst Injury on Jackass?

• Knoxville’s bull stunt is widely considered the most severe, involving a brain hemorrhage and multiple fractures (Entertainment Weekly).
• Other cast members have suffered serious injuries — broken bones, burns, concussions — but none have publicly described long-term disability equivalent to Knoxville’s.

Why Did Johnny Knoxville Stop Acting? The End of His Career

Is Johnny Knoxville Retired?

Knoxville has not accepted new acting roles since 2022, and he stated that Jackass Forever would be his last major stunt project (Hypebeast). His injuries have limited his ability to perform physically demanding work.

What Ended His Acting Career?

• His concussion history makes him medically unable to perform head-impact stunts (Hypebeast).
• The bull stunt injuries — brain hemorrhage, broken wrist, broken rib — required a prolonged hospital stay and recovery (Entertainment Weekly).
• He has not taken any new film or TV roles since 2022.

Jackass Forever as a Final Chapter

Knoxville has described Jackass Forever as a proper send-off for the franchise. The film’s release in 2022 was accompanied by his admission that he was done with the most dangerous stunts. The pattern is clear: the physical toll finally caught up with him.

What this means: The man who once seemed indestructible now lives with the consequences of a career built on pain.

Is Steve-O Still Friends with Johnny Knoxville?

Steve-O and Knoxville’s Relationship Over the Years

Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville remain close friends. They co-host the Jackass podcast and appear together at events. No public feud or falling out has been reported. Their friendship is one of the few constants in the Jackass cast’s tangled web of relationships.

Recent Public Appearances Together

In 2025 and 2026, the two have been seen together at promotional events and on social media, reinforcing that their bond remains intact. The contrast with Knoxville’s estrangement from Bam Margera is stark.

Why Aren’t Bam and Johnny Knoxville Friends Anymore?

Bam Margera’s Substance Abuse and Legal Issues

• Bam Margera was fired from Jackass Forever due to his inability to meet sobriety requirements (Decider).
• The lawsuit alleged a “wellness agreement” requiring breathalyzer tests, urinalysis, hair-follicle testing, and a daily pill process on a FaceTime call with a doctor (The A.V. Club).
• Margera later dismissed the wrongful-termination lawsuit against Knoxville and Paramount Pictures, with settlement terms not publicly disclosed (People).

Jackass Forever Exclusion and Aftermath

• Knoxville and Margera have not spoken since 2021 (Sunday Report).
• In a February 2025 interview, Margera said he had not spoken to Knoxville and described the situation as “awkward” (Sunday Report).
• Decider reported on July 24, 2025, that Margera had definitively closed the door on reuniting with his Jackass castmates (Decider).
• A July 2026 Consequence report said Margera blamed the beef with Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine for no reunion, and that he never wanted to see Knoxville or Tremaine again in his life (Consequence).

Public Statements from Both Sides

• Knoxville was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter saying he did not wish to engage in a public dispute with Margera, and that his primary concern was Margera’s recovery.
• In February 2026, Knoxville told Men’s Journal that he heard Margera was “doing a lot better” and that he was happy for him.
• Margera, meanwhile, has been openly critical in interviews, blaming Knoxville and Tremaine for his exclusion.

Is Johnny Knoxville LGBTQ?

Johnny Knoxville’s Relationships and Family

Johnny Knoxville has been married twice to women and has children. There is no credible evidence or statement suggesting he is LGBTQ. The rumor likely stems from online speculation and his willingness to challenge gender norms in comedy.

Why the Question Persists

Knoxville’s cross-dressing stunts on Jackass and his role as a transgender character in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa have led some to speculate about his sexuality. However, these are comedic performances, not personal identity statements.

What this means: The question persists because of the blurred line between performance and person, but the facts are clear.

Timeline of Key Events

• 2000 – Jackass TV series premieres on MTV (Wikipedia).
• 2002 – Jackass: The Movie released, grossing over $79 million worldwide (Wikipedia).
• 2013 – Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa released, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup (Wikipedia).
• 2022 – Jackass Forever released; Knoxville suffers a brain injury during a bull stunt (Entertainment Weekly).
• 2025 – Margera publicly closes the door on reconciliation (Decider).
• 2026 – New Yorker publishes a long-form profile on Johnny Knoxville (New Yorker).

The timeline shows a clear arc: from the heights of the franchise to the painful aftermath of injury and estrangement.

What’s Confirmed and What’s Still Unclear

The split between confirmed and unclear reflects the limits of public knowledge: some facts are solid, others remain in the shadows.

Key Quotes

“I’m way over my limit for concussions.”

— Johnny Knoxville, Hypebeast

“I don’t wish to engage in a public dispute with Bam. My primary concern is his recovery.”

— Johnny Knoxville, The Hollywood Reporter

“I never want to see Johnny Knoxville or Jeff Tremaine again in my life.”

— Bam Margera, Consequence

Knoxville’s public restraint and Margera’s raw anger paint two very different pictures of the same rift. For fans, the divide is painful to watch — but it’s also a reminder that the Jackass family was never as tight as it seemed on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

For fans who grew up watching Knoxville take hits for laughs, the real story is more sobering. The man who once seemed indestructible is now living with the consequences of a career built on pain. The choice for Knoxville is clear: he can either continue to risk his health for the sake of the franchise, or he can walk away and protect what remains of his body. Knoxville has chosen the latter.