Chadwick Boseman’s heartbreaking hint at hidden illness ahead of Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman has died after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer.

The 43-year-old Black Panther star was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer back in 2016 but did not publicly discuss his health.

Fans have been mourning the loss of the actor on Twitter, where one person noticed something particulaly heartbreaking from an interview the actor did back in 2017.

Huffington Post journalist Matt Jacobs interviewed Boseman ahead of the release of Black Panther and the pair discussed the reality of ‘bulking up’ for Marvel movies.

Looking back on the interview now, it seems Boseman was hinting at his private health battle in his replies.

Jacobs started the conversation by asking: “You came off of one Black Panther project, did Marshall and then made another Black Panther movie. Did you bulk up, slim down and then bulk up again?

Boseman was described as “looking exhausted” as he responded: “Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

Jacobs then comments: “You’ve been through the wringer.”

He claims Boseman laughed, while saying: “Oh, you don’t even know. You have no idea. One day I’ll live to tell the story.”

The snippet from the interview went viral on Twitter, garnering over 143,000 likes and over 46,000 retweets.

One person replied: “He laughed. HE LAUGHED. Knowing he was dying, he still laughed at. This man loved bringing joy to others and it is absolutely brutal he can’t anymore.”

Another wrote: “That is not just strength that is heart and determination.”

“God, this made me start crying. His fortitude was truly the stuff of superheroes,” someone else commented.

A different user added: “OMG this is extremely heartbreaking.”

The tragic news of Boseman’s death was confirmed in posts on his social media accounts on August 29, in a statement which read: “It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.

“Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much.

“From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.

“It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.

“He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.

“The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”