Jeff Ross Recovering After Ice Cream Treat Lands Him In The Hospital

Jeff Ross had an unexpected detour from the stage this weekend straight to the ER.

The comedian, known for his razor-sharp roasts and Comedy Central specials, revealed on Instagram that he was hospitalized Saturday night after suffering a sudden allergic reaction while in Mill Valley, California, for a comedy show.

Jeff Ross explained that after the show, he and the band went out to celebrate with some food, including a unique treat of burrata ice cream.

While the dish may have been a hit with his taste buds, it didn’t sit quite as well with the rest of him.

"It was delicious. Seriously yummy. But my lips blew up and I spent the entire night in the ER. It was my first allergic reaction ever. I guess that’s pretty remarkable considering I’m constantly shoving whatever food is in front of me into my face," he wrote in the candid Instagram post.

Despite the scare, Ross kept his sense of humor intact, naturally.

He thanked the hospital staff for taking good care of him and for "only roasting me light" while he was being treated.

Ross even joked about his swollen appearance, writing, "DESPITE LOOKING LIKE MICKEY ROURKE at the end of 'The Wrestler'…"

Thankfully, Ross was discharged the next morning and wasted no time getting back to business. The comedy vet shared that he was already prepping for another show on Sunday night, proving that not even a surprise trip to the ER can keep him off the stage for long.

Ross, the quick-witted comedian best known for his cutting edge on Comedy Central’s iconic "Roast" series, took a more tender tone as he accepted honors at The Creative Coalition’s 10th Humanitarian Awards ceremony last September.

During the annual event, hosted by Variety’s Marc Malkin and dedicated to celebrating Hollywood figures who champion social good, Ross reflected on his deeply personal caregiving journey and the legacy of his late grandfather, with whom he shared a formative chapter of his life.

Following the loss of his mother to leukemia at age 14 and his father to drug-related causes just five years later, Ross found himself living with and caring for his grandfather. At the time, he was just starting to carve out a career in comedy.

“I was just a young comic, 23 years old, didn’t think I could handle it,” Ross told Variety. “In the end, we toughed it out together. I’m glad I had that time with him.”

Ross admitted he initially tried to turn down the award, but eventually agreed to accept it in honor of the man who helped raise him. Known for his irreverent humor, he still found ways to weave in levity throughout the evening, particularly when recalling how he used to “taste” the meals delivered to his grandfather by Meals on Wheels.

“I’d always taste them too, just to makes sure they weren’t poisoning it,” he joked.

Ross has stayed committed to charity throughout his career, often tying philanthropic efforts to public appearances, including recent invitations to primetime game shows. He cited Meals on Wheels as a cause particularly close to his heart, having seen firsthand the impact it had on his grandfather’s later years.

Presenters John Stamos, Seth Green, and Rich Eisen took the stage to celebrate Ross, each speaking to his generosity, integrity, and ability to make people laugh while confronting life’s toughest moments.

“Your comedy isn’t just about roasting,” said Stamos. “It’s about revealing the truth with love, and about making heavy moments in life feel lighter and showing us that humor can heal.”

Green praised Ross as “one of the most generous people he’s ever met.”

In true Ross fashion, his acceptance speech blended sharp wit with sincere gratitude. Poking fun at his Netflix special, he quipped, “Shoutout to the lighting designer. Do you know how hard it is to light both Tom Brady and Kevin Hart?”

He then thanked the teleprompter, adding, “I went slow for the football players… these are the jokes I was going to tell if I won the Creative Arts Emmys.”

Ross previously hosted the Creative Coalition’s Humanitarian Awards in 2019.