For Regina King, “pain is a journey.” This week, that trip included her first interview about her late son Ian Alexander Jr., who died in 2022.
“I'm a different person now than I was,” King reflected in his first television conversation in two years. “I understand that grief is a love that has nowhere to go. I know it is important for me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, to talk about him in the present because he is always with me.”
The Oscar and Emmy-winning actor, 53, reflected on the “joy and happiness that [Ian] he gave to all of us” and how he worked to come to terms with his death in a vulnerable conversation with “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts, published Thursday. Alexander, a DJ who often accompanied his mother to red carpet events, committed suicide on January 21, 2022. He was 26 years old.
“Our family is deeply devastated by the loss of Ian,” read a 2022 family statement shared by a spokesperson for King. “He is such a bright light and he cared deeply about the happiness of others. “Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.”
The “Watchmen” star shares Alexander with her ex-husband and record producer Ian Alexander Sr. They divorced in 2007 after 10 years of marriage.
King, who is promoting her Shirley Chisholm biopic, “Shirley,” said Alexander struggled with her mental health before her death. He was depressed and had “tired of talking” after trying mental health treatments that included therapy, psychiatric help and various programs. Wiping tears from her eyes, King told Roberts: “She was so angry at God. Why would Ian be given that weight?
After her son's death, King largely stayed out of the public spotlight, beyond appearances at various Hollywood events. Most recently, King served as a presenter at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday and wore an orange dress, a nod to her son's favorite color.
Two years of absence allowed King to grieve and accept his son's death. The “If Beale Street Could Talk” star told Roberts: “I respect and understand” Alexander’s decision to take his life, “that he didn’t want to be here anymore.”
King may be a beloved actress with awards and decades of credits to her name, but she said, “My favorite thing about me is being Ian's mom,” even if that now comes with some emotional caveats.
With “Shirley,” which she dedicates to Alexander, the “227” star is ready to step back into the spotlight. She said she understands that the guilt and sadness of losing her son “will never go away,” but after two years of processing her grief, she has adopted a different perspective.
“The sadness is a reminder of how much he means to me,” she told Roberts.
