Regina King is sharing her experience regarding the passing of her son, Ian Alexander Jr., who died by suicide over two years ago. In an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America that aired on Thursday, King discussed Alexander Jr.’s decision to take his own life and the emotional journey she has been on as she mourns the loss of her only child.
In her first detailed remarks since his passing, King reflected on Alexander Jr.’s battle with depression. “People have certain expectations of what depression should look like, and they expect it to appear burdensome,” she expressed. “Dealing with this and not having the opportunity to fully process Ian’s decision, which I acknowledge and accept, that he no longer wanted to be here. It’s challenging for others to comprehend because they haven’t walked in our shoes, they haven’t experienced Ian’s path.”
“I was filled with rage towards God,” she shared. “Why was that burden placed on Ian? After all the efforts we made with therapy, psychiatrists, and programs — Ian simply said, ‘I’m tired of talking, Mom.'” Two years after Alexander Jr.’s death, King is still grieving.
“I’m not the same person I was before Jan. 19,” she reflected. “Grief changes you. I’ve come to understand that grief is love without a destination. It’s essential for me to honor Ian for who he was, speaking of him in the present tense, as he’s always with me, bringing us joy and happiness.”
She continued, “My greatest source of pride is being Ian’s mom. I say this with tears, with a mix of emotions. I couldn’t express this if I didn’t respect the journey.”
King, visibly emotional, shared, “Guilt often consumes me. As a parent who has lost a child, there’s always that question lingering: ‘What could I have done differently to prevent this?’ While I know others share in this grief, I’m the only one who was Ian’s mom. So, it’s a weight I carry alone. The sadness, it’s a permanent companion. But I’ve come to see it as a testament to how deeply he mattered to me, you know?”
Last year, on what would have been Alexander Jr.’s 27th birthday, King honored his memory. “On January 19th, we celebrate Ian’s Worthday. While we continue to navigate his physical absence, his essence remains ever present,” King shared in an Instagram post on the occasion. “Though we may be scattered across the globe, so is Ian. His spirit serves as the thread that binds us all together.”
During the 2024 Oscars, King paid a subtle tribute to Alexander Jr. by donning an orange dress, his favorite color, as revealed by Roberts. Additionally, King mentioned that she often feels her son’s presence in moments she describes as “Ian-spirations.”
King’s upcoming role as pioneering congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the Netflix biopic “Shirley,” set to premiere on March 22, is dedicated to Alexander Jr.
Roberts mentioned that King expressed her readiness to discuss her son’s passing and preferred to address it in one interview while promoting “Shirley.”
“I want to discuss my son,” Roberts recounted King saying at the Oscars. “I don’t want to exploit him or turn him into a symbol. I want to have this conversation once and then move forward.”