Regina King Says She Sometimes Still Feels ‘Guilt’ After Son’s Death: ‘The Sadness Will Never Go Away’

Regina King opens up about her grief journey — and her son Ian Alexander Jr.’s legacy. – two years after his death.

In an interview with Robin Roberts, which aired in its entirety on Thursday Good morning Americathe Shirley the star admitted that “sometimes a lot of guilt comes over her”, until today.

“When a parent loses a child, you still ask yourself, ‘What could I have done to prevent this from happening?’ King, 53, said.

Ian died by suicide in January 2022, shortly after his 26th birthday. He is Kinga’s only child, whom she shared with ex-husband Ian Alexander Sr., a music producer.

Regina King says ‘different person’ now 2 years after son’s death: ‘Grief is a journey’

Since his death, King has had “time to just sit with Ian’s choice” — and now, “I respect and understand that he didn’t want to be here anymore. And that’s hard for other people to accept, because he didn’t live our experience, he didn’t live Ian’s journey.” , Roberts, 63, said.

“It is it is important for me to pay tribute to Ian the totality of what he is — I speak of him in the present, because he is always with me. And the joy and happiness he gave us all,” she said.

Speaking specifically about depression, the Oscar winner said, “People expect you to look a certain way, and they expect you to look difficult,” but noted that’s not always the case.

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Regina King and son Ian Alexander Jr. at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on November 24, 2019. Kevin Mazur/Getty

Regardless, King told Roberts that after her son’s death, she was at first “so angry at God” and asked, “Why would they give Ian that much weight?”

From everything we’ve been through with therapy and psychiatrists and programs, Ian said, ‘I’m tired of talking, Mom,’ she said.

The If Beale Street Could Talk star said that “being Ian’s mum” is her “favourite thing” about herself – and that she “can’t say that with a smile, with tears, with all the emotions that come with it” if she doesn’t say “respect the journey”.

Of the times she still feels her son’s physical presence, King said, “Sometimes it’ll bring a laugh — most times, recently, it’s brought a smile. But sometimes his absence is really loud.”

Regina King on Good morning America March 14, 2024

ABC news

Regina King Tributes Late Son Ian Alexander Jr., One Year After His Death: ‘My Guiding Light’

King said she is “a different person now” than she was before Ian’s death, and that she now understands that “grief is a journey” and “love that has nowhere to go.”

“I know I share this sadness with everyone, but no one else is Ian’s mom. Only me. And so it is mine, and the sadness will never go away. It will always be with me,” she continued later in the interview.

The actress added, “And I think I saw somewhere, ‘Sadness is a reminder of how much he means to me,’ you know? Happy sadness.”

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the text crisis line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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Source: HIS Education