Regina King speaks out for 1st time on death of her son, who died by suicide

Oscar-winning actress Regina King is speaking out for the first time about her late son Ian Alexander Jr., who died by suicide in January 2022 at the age of 26.
MORE: abc7.com/regina-king-son-ian-...

[@bywillia]

I love that she shared...Grief is LOVE that has no place to go😐🙏🏾

[@marithagray4392]

Yes that's strong

[@HomelessInAmerica2024]

That's the blessing because the grief won't stay with her. She's going to be herself again. 🩵🩷💛

[@brandib412]

The hardest thing to go through is the death of your child 😢

[@lillianwalton6466]

7 months for me

[@treanderson2011]

Unfortunately lost my daughter to suicide this past Jan..I'll nvr be the same

[@Lynneparks7627]

I know the pain. I've been there. 4 years now.

[@Lynneparks7627]

​@@treanderson2011😢 It is like living in a fog. 🙏🏿

[@shawnanelson8287]

6 months for me😢

[@deescott8312]

Regina is so talented and beautiful. Sorry for her loss 😢

[@HomelessInAmerica2024]

Yes she is both, and and more! 🩵🩷💛

[@HomelessInAmerica2024]

I'm sending her some Happy. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 after the tears.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Sam.IAM2]

She is so Real and A Beautiful All Around Person ❤ God Bless You Always

[@lanadarby6609]

Regina King. She has always been one of my most favorite actresses. So real, humble, enormous talent. May God protect your heart!! Will continue to pray for you.

[@Sam.IAM2]

We Love You Regina King ❤❤❤

[@awesomeniecy9242]

DITTO!🥰

[@debragilbert849]

You don't personally know her but you want to just give Ian's mom a hug. Blessings to you sister.

[@sueq.8296]

Shirley Chisholm was the first book report I ever did in school. So I’m so excited that someone is talent her story. This woman is a trailblazer. Amazing. And this could not have come at a better time than when I myself have decided to step out and be just as bold as Shirley Chisholm.

[@gerrimiller8727]

Poor thing. I am on the opposite side of her son. I am the Mom that struggles with depression and I think about leaving this earth a lot. However, I don't want to hurt my 4 children and 6 grandchildren. They keep me going but there are days that I say enough is enough. My prayer is with Regina and I am so sorry for her lose. May God heal her in every way that would allow her to keep going.

[@CM_CALI]

Praying for you 💕🌷

[@Rashaun1978]

Fast, pray, seek God, read the full bible. Chase the one who created you because he will meet you where you are. He loves you with an everlasting love and I promise you can get through this. We're praying for you and support you 💞🙏🏾♥️

[@lisathornton6374]

Please don't leave. You are loved.

[@gloriamcdonough987]

@@Rashaun1978beautiful words of wisdom and support for someone that’s suffering of depression🙏😞🫶You spoke the truth about how God is going to keep you alive🙏and strong for the sake of your beautiful kids🙏 Don’t give up🙏You’re not alone and we all going through difficult times. Please keep your faith and stay positive those kids need you🙏🫶🌹

[@Lynneparks7627]

Please know that you are loved. My daughter passed away 4 years ago. I did not want to wake up but I also didn't want my loved ones here on earth to go through anymore pain. ❤

[@mystiquetravels5579]

Prayers to Regina & her family while she grieves the loss of her Son. She is such a wonderful actress with a glowing personality. It hurts to see her go through this.😢😢😢

[@msf8297]

prayers for what?

[@EbonyWhitee]

When she said, “He didn’t want to be here anymore.” 😪

[@janetmooremendias233]

I don't know you but live with much grief; so you have my heartfelt empathy. 03/13/24

[@Cardeamuzic]

Crazy I had a just met him days before he passed, he was cool brotha definitely felt horrible when I got the news, prayers go out to the King family.🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@christinabSF]

"sometimes his absence is really loud" 6:24 that one stabbed hard, pain so beautifully expressed

[@christinearielle8978]

As a suicide survivor this hit hard!!! I’m so happy she could respect his decision to find peace. I pray she finds joy 🩷

[@SheliaRPierre]

Beautiful and wise Regina. Wishing her the best. Rest in Peace to her son. One of the hardest "thing" to live with...losing a child. I saw my mom go through it after my baby brother passed away from Aplastic Anemia. Years later my mom passed on his birthday. As a sibling it was so painful when he died, so for a parent that's a whole different kind of pain.

[@sunshinemarie3550]

What beautiful statements… love and support from his mom😢

[@christinestone7732]

I am so sorry for your loss. I pray God gives you peace. Mental health is misunderstood. my daughter suffers from depression. I pray everyday for peace for her and all who suffer. ❤️🙏

[@marysettle459]

I've gone through depression and it feels like a prison in the mind that you may never get a release from, I know it is a bad thing and most times, nothing can lift you when you are in that dark place but know that, it's not anything anyone can lift off of a person once the cloud hangs over. Sending prayers up for you and family.

[@michaelknowles4005]

Love you sister

[@dreyjames272]

She strong to open up about this and it's a fresh wound

[@focussparring.]

Very sorry to hear that.

[@King82005]

Me too 😢

[@reginaeverett6974]

I suffer from depression and her story Is a blessing because she can help others out

[@TheExtraIntellectual]

May God continue to strengthen her & give her peace.

[@lilyj9924]

AMEN ✝️ 🙏

[@melanindescendants4240]

Beautiful and humble. For ones speaking on “religion” and have no idea what her stance is or what her and her son went through, please keep your “Godly” advice and thoughts to yourself. Not everyone sits in religion and just bc they choose not to, doesn’t make them bad people. Sthu, she is opening up about her son’s SUICIDE and how she feels, he felt and how it impacted her and trying to bring some awareness to mental health. Take yall asses on somewhere with that shit. “A child not raised in the light meh meh meh.” Hush

[@michelebcombs5016]

I am so very sorry for the passing of your son. I had a godson to pass in the same way. DEPRESSION IS REAL, we think we know why but they are no longer here to tell us why. Missing signals that were sometimes given while joking or just talking, but never really telling the whole truth of how they are really feeling. I am not the parent but I do know that God is real and He will help us through it one second at a time. Blessings to you and I am glad you are back. If you need more time TAKE IT because GRIEVE IS ALSO REAL. Much LOVE TO YOU Regina

[@elleanormontgomery4865]

I admire her strength definitely a Mom and actress at heart ❤

[@adeleb7753]

I love her honesty. God bless her.

[@marithagray4392]

Grief is love with no place to go😢

[@adeleb7753]

my heart goes out to her

[@amyallman5912]

Sending hugs and prayers

[@ralanawhitehead2026]

My heart goes out to you and I'm sorry. I too have struggled with depression since my early teens. It has made this journey unbearable a lot of the time so I can relate to the pain and space he was in💔 It's extremely isolating and typically not met with the same compassion and understanding as someone fighting a life altering or life threatening disease yet, it can be just as fatal. You get tired of pretending, tired of fighting, and just want peace. Nobody chooses to feel that pain, you just do and unfortunately a lot of people just don't get that which makes the fight that much harder.

[@jureagrichardson]

❤🫂❤️

[@HomelessInAmerica2024]

As someone who have lost a child, I agree with Robin. Its hard to be reminded of a tragedy everyday, because it's a loss.

[@BBQ3313]

Heartbreaking, I am very sorry for anyone going through this🙏🙏

[@jenniferslowley4319]

Depression can be indiscernible at times. The so called "happiest" person in the room constantly grinning and joking can also be the saddest, darkest, gloom laden person in the room. Grief is the price we pay for love. May Ian, Ms King's son, rest now in eternal peace🤎

[@shugasnaps]

Bless her heart. I too, recently lost my son to suicide.

[@Im.A.Potatoe]

Vaccine

[@shugasnaps]

@@Im.A.Potatoe he wasn't vaccinated

[@Lynneparks7627]

So sorry for your loss! 😢I lost my child for years ago. ❤

[@AnAdorableWombat1]

@@Im.A.Potatoetake that ignorant lame mess someone else. How are you going to tell someone else how they lost their own child?

[@ayshasalma4676]

Sending love ❤️

[@gilu7992]

I am sorry for her, it is such a sad situation all over the world.. so many beautiful, young people suffer from Depression 😢

[@eeeeeeeeweeeeeeeeeeooooooo6112]

I’m so sorry for your loss of your child. I pray for your healing ❤️‍🩹

[@jman3254]

A parent should never lose a child. I lost my hero and my dad over two years ago and its still a struggle everyday, to a degree. But to lose a child has to be the worst.

[@caitydid1306]

This interview was incredibly well done. 👏🏻

[@kesm66]

Beautiful and heartfelt❤

[@TheBudmen]

Friday, and the Boondocks are favorites of mine, very sad for her, and her family.

[@MyssLynn363]

Praying 🙏🏾 ❤️ 🙏🏾 for all of you parents that's lost your child sending my heartfelt sympathy and condolences... 🕊️🌹🕊️🌹

[@valeriedwilliams9268]

Losing a child is very hard. Praying for her and her family.

[@oliviaacosta6239]

I understand your pain. My daughter has been suffering and suicidal. Although she is still alive I know it may come one day when she’ll no longer be here. It’s in God’s hands.

[@theloveofgodministriesinba3524]

Praying for you now

[@lesleyk1727]

Will keep you and your daughter in my prayers🙏🏾

[@oliviaacosta6239]

Thank you

[@tinaromhill7901]

Regina is just amazing,thank you for your sharing your life ,my oldest child is having these horrible experiences and you really make dealing with depression more Tolerable

[@michaelknowles4005]

POWERFUL CANT WAIT TO SEE THE MOVIE I KNOW WHO SHE WAS FOR YEARS

[@stephaniejames4940]

Me too. Can't wait to see the movie.

[@consciousFiregoddess]

May God send her great peace in her heart & lots of laughter ❤

[@lilyj9924]

AMEN 🙏 ✝️

[@pamelaschilling9464]

So sorry for Regina King's loss. I can't even imagine.

[@michelleburkes2535]

My heart goes out to Ms.King and her family. I pray that she heals in time.🙏🙏🙏

[@mhs7219]

absolutely love her acting especially in “The Leftovers” even though it was a short role in it still made me cry 😢❤

[@queenwinning]

Regina is such a beautiful soft spoken soul. It saddens me to see her in pain. I will keep her in prayers. ❤❤❤

[@simple_naildesigns]

Can’t imagine the pain - sending prayers 🙏

[@nodatastored684]

🙏🏿 ❤ We love you, too

[@courtneyboudreau4284]

I can't imagine honestly. Hoping for a son is so special is your best friend. He loves you. He looks up to you. He is just so fascinated with her mothers and they just become my best friend in life. I can't imagine the pain. I have a 5-year-old son. Gosh is he special? I don't know if I can live without him❤

[@michaelmcarthur2647]

God bless you Ms. King. I've always admired you from the beginning of your career. You are wonderful people! May you continue to grow in who you ARE!!! ❤❤❤

[@sunflowerpwr.8821]

She doesn't look like she has had any plastic surgery. Good for her. She looks quite beautiful.

[@kdtennis1]

All Hollywood actresses have plastic surgery ( whether noticeable or not). They have to look youthful if they want to win certain roles!

[@the_Real_Grammy_of_6]

I love what she said about depression “People expect it to look a certain way. They expect it to look heavy”. That is the truth. I have dealt with Severe Clinical Depression since probably my childhood. I was diagnosed in 1994. I have been told by people who don’t understand & choose not to research, “You’re not depressed. You’re just having a bad day” or “You’re just sad” Depression isn’t something that’s visible. It’s a struggle. And when people you love doubt you, it’s a very lonely place.

[@sherrykao978]

Heartbroken 💔

[@lolliesingleton5960]

You are beautiful, strong and talented. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. God bless you. ,💖🙏🏾🌹

[@simonepeele487]

YOU NEVER GET OVER IT!! WE LOVE U TOO!

[@Mg26016]

She such a strong beautiful lady 💜😭

[@yonnettenarine]

Very touching

[@truth-digger]

Such a strong & beautiful woman… my condolences 💐

[@cfpros1]

So sorry for your loss Regina. Bless you for getting up and running again. I don’t think I could in that pain. Praying for you.

[@cathypreston1095]

Bless your heart thank you

[@theereload203]

Grief is love that has no place to go....did anyone catch that!!! 😪❤💜

[@awesomeniecy9242]

WOW, very profound, loving her authenticity 🥰

[@gretelstewart6871]

Ms. Regina King is a Beautiful soul. I have always watch her acting from 227 and beyond. She is an awesome Actress and a true force to be reckon with in such a tough industry especially for black Actresses. But she is even more a loving mother to her son Ian. You could tell by the gleam in her eyes when ever she mentioned his name. God Bless her & God bless her Son Ian. Rest well.. 🙏🏽

[@Fat12219]

Her and only son , that is hard !!

[@Emptymoon1]

I love Regina♥️~ Ian’s Mom♥️

[@margaretremick6476]

I call this the Moms club, in which I am a member. It’s a crappy club to be in! I have always admired your work, even since 227! I was never angry with God. I am ever thankful for Him letting me be a Mom to my son for 35 years.

[@simple_naildesigns]

So sorry for your loss 🙏

[@magdasanon5469]

My condolences

[@Krysto0o]

Grief is love that has no place to go ❤😢

[@ManuelGuzman067]

Had no idea . Really Like her Remember her from movie 🎥🍿 Poetic Justice. RIP Bro 🌹

[@ashblake99]

I would’ve been crying more than Regina trying to interview on this topic. I would’ve been a mess. It’s just so sad.

[@wowmind2011]

Soar in Peace Ian, and God bless and heal Regina and the entire family.❤

[@mommabear8260]

Wow! Listening to her about her thought of suicide was profound! It was HIS choice and I respect that!😢

[@rosilandfarrell8678]

Hey girl, I too loss a Son to suicide going on five yrs now and my Husband And I can talk about now. But its still hard, But we have the most inportant things now is all the happy and best Memories to look back on and to Us thoses are that most happiest things to hold on to, We light a candle on his Brithday every yr. . So stay Strong Regina, Loves Sista! Rosiland and Bruce Farrell our Son name Mark Farrell We love you my Son , miss you every day, Senting prayers And Love to you Regina ❤🙏🙏🙏

[@simple_naildesigns]

So sorry for your loss 🙏

[@eileenmclaughlin985]

THE. WORLD. LOVES U. REGINA. SORRY FOR YOUR. LOSS THO GOD B WITH. U. ALWAYS❤❤❤❤❤

[@bestteacher84]

She’s incredibly strong.

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

Thank you for sharing this interview of Ms. Regina King. Wow, thank you for saying that Ms. Regina King - "grief is love that has no place to go". My late Mommy suddenly passed away nine years ago and that saying I do feel and understand. 17mar24

[@evelynjohnson6343]

I cried 😢😢😢RIP IAN❤🙏

[@mcxml]

My heart goes out to Regina. As a new mom, I know I wouldn’t be able to survive that type of reality 💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@loriejolly7539]

Simply courageous 🙏🏽

[@medusagorgon8432]

Poor mama💔

[@lovelynight5967]

My prayers go out to you Regina and for your son. We love you and support you.

[@carlarichards8921]

Unless you understand Mental Illness. You cannot understand the pain. May he rest in peace. May Regina find strength in God. Watch you as Brenda on 227. You have since then been one of my favorite Actresses ❤😊

[@rosilandfarrell8678]

Thank you, it hard and My Husband and I still Think About him A lot But the Menories are the ones That keep you going , Thanks loves!

[@positivelypinky]

I think about her often especially when we didn’t see her for a long time after this happened.

[@twindaniel18]

You will never expect here to be the voice of Riley n Huey on boondocks

[@BriaBarrows]

Whew 🙏🏾

[@jude1515]

Very sad.🙏🏼❤️

[@pkcollins8300]

Ohhh Regina - I did not know about your son. I am so very very sorry! Sending you love.....

[@gstrathmore194]

One of the best actresses in the business.

[@kennethwright8108]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😞

[@DarrylTHampton]

My thought and praryers go's out to you and your family regina king i'm a long time fan of you and your actting carrier i this can be a difficult time god call your son home and now he in a better place.

[@lisathornton6374]

Wow! She has captured the essence and look of Representative Chisholm. I can't wait to see this film.

[@monicascott2354]

OooooWE! I can't wait to see this movie! I'm so very sorry for Regina's loss, though. So terrible to bury a child.

[@yamig1738]

My condolences to you. It is so sad 😢 sad sad sad