Current:Home > InvestRegina King Details Her Grief Journey After Son Ian's Death -RiskWatch
Regina King Details Her Grief Journey After Son Ian's Death
View
Date:2025-04-12 18:46:59
Content warning: this article features mentions of suicide.
Regina King is sharing what she has learned about grief after losing her son, Ian Alexander Jr.
"Grief is a journey," the Oscar winner told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts in a March 14 interview. "I understand that grief is love that has no place to go. I know that it's important to me to honor Ian, the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present, because he is always with me."
Ian—whom the actress shared with ex-husband Ian Alexander Sr.—died by suicide in January 2022, days after his 26th birthday. Regina reflected on her son's mental health battle while sharing her perspective on stigma surrounding depression.
"When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy," the If Beale Street Could Talk actress noted. "People expect to have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian's choice—which I respect and understand, that he didn't want to be here anymore—and that's a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian's journey."
And in the wake of Ian's death, the 53-year-old recalled being "so angry with God."
"Why would that weight be given to Ian?" she added. "Of all of the things that we had gone through, with the therapy, psychiatrists and programs, and Ian was like, 'I'm tired of talking, Mom.'"
And the One Night in Miami... director still struggles with guilt. "When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, 'What could I have done so that wouldn't have happened?'"
She continued, "I know that I share this grief with everyone. But no one else is Ian's mom. Only me. And so, it's mine and the sadness will never go away. It will always be with me."
Regina even dedicated her performance in the upcoming film Shirley, in which she plays trailblazing Black congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, to her son.
"My favorite thing about myself," she said, "is being Ian's mom."
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.veryGood! (16551)
Related
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Monument honoring slain civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo and friend is unveiled in Detroit park
- A man in military clothing has shot and wounded a person at a Dutch teaching hospital, police say
- M.S. Swaminathan, who helped India’s farming to grow at industrial scale, dies at 98
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Damaging fraud ruling could spell the end of Donald Trump's New York business empire
- Jesus Ayala, teen accused in Las Vegas cyclist hit-and-run, boasts he'll be 'out in 30 days'
- UAW VP says Stellantis proposals mean job losses; top executive says they won't
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- As migration surges in Americas, ‘funds simply aren’t there’ for humanitarian response, UN says
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee tests positive for COVID-19 for 3rd time
- Storm Elias crashes into a Greek city, filling homes with mud and knocking out power
- At US Antarctic base hit by harassment claims, workers are banned from buying alcohol at bars
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- How rumors and conspiracy theories got in the way of Maui's fire recovery
- 'Candelaria': Melissa Lozada-Oliva tackles cannibalism and yoga wellness cults in new novel
- UAW to announce next round of strike targets Friday: 'Everything is on the table'
Recommendation
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
6 women are rescued from a refrigerated truck in France after making distress call to a BBC reporter
North Korean leader urges greater nuclear weapons production in response to a ‘new Cold War’
U.S. aims to resettle up to 50,000 refugees from Latin America in 2024 under Biden plan
Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
Shelters for migrants are filling up across Germany as attitudes toward the newcomers harden
Sean Payton's brash words come back to haunt Broncos coach in disastrous 0-3 start
Judge tosses Nebraska state lawmaker’s defamation suit against PAC that labeled her a sexual abuser