Fans Slam William Shatner After Revealing 'Difficult' Health Battle After 'Star Trek' On-Set Mishap

William Shatner, the beloved actor best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in "Star Trek," has revealed a personal health battle he has privately fought for over three decades.

In a recent video for the nonprofit Tinnitus Quest, William Shatner opened up about living with tinnitus, a permanent hearing condition that he believes was caused by a special effects explosion while filming the "Star Trek " episode "Arena."

Shatner explained that his journey with tinnitus began on set when he was too close to the explosion during filming.

"The result was that I was left with permanent tinnitus," the 94-year-old actor recalled in the video.

Over the years, Shatner has experienced many ups and downs with his condition, acknowledging how difficult it can be to manage. "I know from firsthand experience just how difficult it can get," he said.

After hearing the news, many people spoke out, sending well wishes to the actor.

"Tinnitus is a horrible condition. Some people don't have as bad as others," one of his fans said. "Mine is bad and sometimes it's unbearable. The only time I get relief is when I sleep, and I feel fortunate. Some people can't even sleep because of it. Protect your ears, especially from fireworks and gunfire or any other sharp, hard, loud sounds."

"My tinnitus is, at times, so loud, I can focus on nothing else," another shared. "Oddly, I went to an audiologist to have my hearing tested and the results are, other than some high frequency roll off, my hearing's just about perfect even at very low levels in the headphones."

However, other fans weren't as sympathetic.

"He complains about Tinnitus, try suffering from Meniere's disease, nothing like it, and it can ruin your day, week, or month, depending on the level," one individual said. "I suffer from hearling loss in both ears, but the real problem is how rude people treat you when you ask them to repeat their bad speech or fast talk. They seem to get angry, and when you explain, they tell you to either buy a hearing aid or turn it up."

Someone else replied, "It's true, especially low talkers. A lot of people have louder voices, and that's no issue. IMO it's the low talkers that get most annoyed."

A third said, "I've had tinnitus for 20 years. It's annoying, but one learns to live with it. There certainly are far worse things to have."

Another revealed, "Ask just about any US military combat vet about tinnitus. It comes with the job. In my 70s now, I've dealt with it for decades. Mine sounds like radio static and is louder sometimes than others. Can't say I've made friends with it, but I've learned how to deal."

In 2023, Shatner revealed the moment he realized something was wrong.

“I was on the beach and it’s a vivid moment, and you know how the waves go out. The wave comes in [roars] and then it goes ‘ssss’ [as it] goes out,” the actor told E! News at the time. “All of a sudden, I kept hearing a ‘ssss’ even though there was another wave coming. And that’s how I discovered [I had tinnitus].”

Though tinnitus has been a constant part of his life for decades, Shatner explained how his brain adapted to the sound, much like someone living near an airport would adjust to constant noise.

"Sometimes it’s really bad, but I know it’s not going to kill me," he added, acknowledging the overwhelming nature of the condition at times but also highlighting his resilience.

Despite the ongoing challenges of living with tinnitus, Shatner continues to maintain an energetic and youthful attitude.

Shatner also urged his followers to contribute to Tinnitus Quest, saying, "The more money we can raise for Tinnitus Quest, the quicker we can find a solution to help the millions of people suffering."

He expressed his hope that his advocacy would help bring more attention and resources to addressing the condition.