Jimmy Kimmel and Regina King shared a poignant moment during the actress’s return to Jimmy Kimmel Live, marking her first appearance since the passing of her son over two years ago.
King, 53, joined Thursday’s episode to discuss her latest film, Shirley, where she was warmly welcomed by Kimmel, 56, who asked, “It’s very good to see you. How are you doing right now?”
“Right now, I’m good,” she responded with a smile.
“That’s good to hear,” said the host, his voice wavering with emotion. “I know it’s been a challenging year for you.”
“Yeah,” King acknowledged, reaching out to grasp Kimmel’s hand, offering him another smile and saying, “It’s good to see you, Jimmy.”
Following a heartfelt moment of silence, Kimmel lightened the mood by quipping, “Did you see William Shatner backstage?” eliciting laughter from both his guest and the audience.
In January 2022, King’s son Ian tragically died by suicide, just after celebrating his 26th birthday. He was the actress’s only child, born to her and record producer Ian Alexander Sr., her former husband.
During a recent interview with Robin Roberts, aired on Good Morning America last week, King openly confessed that she still grapples with feelings of guilt. “Sometimes a lot of guilt comes over,” she shared.
“When a parent experiences the loss of a child, you inevitably question, ‘What could I have done differently to prevent this?'” explained the Oscar winner.
In the aftermath of Ian’s passing, King has had time to reflect on his decision. “I’ve had the opportunity to really contemplate Ian’s choice,” she disclosed to Roberts. “And now, I respect and comprehend that he reached a point where he no longer wanted to be here.”
King acknowledged the difficulty in accepting Ian’s decision, recognizing that others may struggle to understand because they didn’t share her or Ian’s personal journey.
“I make it a priority to honor Ian for the entirety of who he was — I speak of him in the present tense because he remains a constant presence in my life. I cherish the joy and happiness he brought to all of us,” she expressed.
In a recent cover story for Harper’s BAZAAR, King delved into the challenges she’s faced since Ian’s passing. “I feel like I am in a place now where my faith has really been tested,” she shared candidly.
“I hesitate to admit this because it feels like a departure from my previous beliefs, but the notion that you reap what you sow has been called into question for me,” she continued.
Reflecting on the efforts she and Ian invested in overcoming his depression, she added, “When I consider all the effort and energy we devoted to navigating through his depression… I mean, he emanated pure joy and light,” the Harder They Fall actress fondly remembered of her son, who was a DJ and performer.