Regina King is opening up on the death of her only son.
King's first televised interview with "Good Morning America" since her son, Ian Alexander Jr., passed away by suicide in 2022 was on Thursday (March 14). In her one-on-one with co-host Robin Roberts, she opened up about the significant impact of her son's death on her life, according to reports by PEOPLE.
When Roberts asked her about the last two years, King was forthcoming and didn't hesitate to share her experiences.
"Oh wow. I'm a different person now than I was Jan. 19. I am," she confessed.
"Grief is a journey," King added. "I understand that."
In January 2022, Ian tragically passed away shortly after turning 26. King shares Ian as a son with her ex-husband, the record producer Ian Alexander Sr.
King says her upcoming film "Shirley" is dedicated in his honor.
(James Devaney. Getty Images.)
“It’s important to me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is,” she explained. Before Ian's death, he sought therapy to treat his mental health. “I respect Ian’s choice 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," King admitted.
“My favorite thing about myself is being Ian’s mom and I can’t say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotion that comes with that. I can’t do that if I did not respect the journey.”
Even though some time has gone by since Ian's passing, King shared that she still feels his presence strongly. However, she admitted that "the sadness never truly disappears," highlighting how much Ian's memory continues to impact her life.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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