What Happened to Apple Watts? 'Love & Hip Hop' Star Is Recovering After Nearly Fatal Car Crash

Born Jontelle Lafaye Watts, Apple Watts made her Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood debut in Season 5 in 2018. As we learned, Apple got her start in the entertainment industry as an exotic dancer, but she later gained popularity as a video vixen, appearing in music videos alongside rappers like Future. It wasn’t long before she adopted the pseudonym “Ms. Apple Bottom.”

The mother of two has stirred her fair share of pots in the past. During her time on LAHH, she uncovered a major family secret and severed ties with her father after a DNA test gone wrong.

Following the show’s hiatus, she came under fire after going live on Instagram while seemingly under the influence. Given her previous history of alcohol abuse, the clip understandably concerned fans. But in late March 2022, she made headlines for a very different and very scary reason.

The reality star was severely injured in an accident. What happened to her? Here’s what to know.

Apple Watts was involved in a horrific car accident with a diesel truck while traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on March 23, 2022. The Shade Room reported that her car flipped multiple times and that she suffered a broken spine, shattered arm, and fractured skull as a result of her collision.

On March 30, TMZ reported that Apple had undergone successful neck surgery by then and was able to breathe on her own, but was still unresponsive and not opening her eyes.

A few weeks after the incident, Apple's sister, Dominique Flournoy, shared an update with friends and family. On April 11, 2022, she wrote on Instagram that Apple was "unresponsive but stable" and would undergo surgery later that month on her right eye, which could not fully close. Dominique explained that if Apple didn't get this surgery done, she could develop serious vision complications or go blind.

Furthermore, Dominique set up a GoFundMe page for Apple to raise funds for her medical and rehabilitation costs. But in September 2022, Apple accused Dominique of stealing money from the donations.

At the time, Apple told The Shade Room that she'd been bed-ridden for six months, but was finally able to speak now — and wanted to speak out against Dominique for allegedly mistreating her while caring for her, and stealing from her.

Also at the time, Apple told the outlet she was continuing to recover and was able to stand up by herself. “I just can’t feel my right side but everything is going good,” she explained.

Apple has continued to focus on her recovery, as evidenced by her social media posts. She has posted about doing physical therapy, and she has shared videos of herself outside (accompanied by a friend) as she tries walking. She said that sometimes she falls, but that she's determined to keep going.

However, she has been honest about how hard it's been. In a June 2023 post, she said she barely goes anywhere and stays in bed most of the time with no one to talk to.

“I don’t give up," she post, which showed her walking from her car toward her wheelchair. "If I’m not hurt ima keep going."