Current:Home > NewsRegina King Details Her Grief Journey After Son Ian's Death-InfoLens
Regina King Details Her Grief Journey After Son Ian's Death
View Date:2024-12-23 11:45:56
Content warning: this article features mentions of suicide.
Regina King is sharing what she has learned about grief after losing her son, Ian Alexander Jr.
"Grief is a journey," the Oscar winner told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts in a March 14 interview. "I understand that grief is love that has no place to go. I know that it's important to me to honor Ian, the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present, because he is always with me."
Ian—whom the actress shared with ex-husband Ian Alexander Sr.—died by suicide in January 2022, days after his 26th birthday. Regina reflected on her son's mental health battle while sharing her perspective on stigma surrounding depression.
"When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy," the If Beale Street Could Talk actress noted. "People expect to have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian's choice—which I respect and understand, that he didn't want to be here anymore—and that's a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian's journey."
And in the wake of Ian's death, the 53-year-old recalled being "so angry with God."
"Why would that weight be given to Ian?" she added. "Of all of the things that we had gone through, with the therapy, psychiatrists and programs, and Ian was like, 'I'm tired of talking, Mom.'"
And the One Night in Miami... director still struggles with guilt. "When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, 'What could I have done so that wouldn't have happened?'"
She continued, "I know that I share this grief with everyone. But no one else is Ian's mom. Only me. And so, it's mine and the sadness will never go away. It will always be with me."
Regina even dedicated her performance in the upcoming film Shirley, in which she plays trailblazing Black congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, to her son.
"My favorite thing about myself," she said, "is being Ian's mom."
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.veryGood! (462)
Related
- AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
- Cara Delevingne Makes a Strong Case for Leg Warmers at the 2023 Met Gala
- Shop the Best Silicone-Free Conditioners for All Hair Types & Budgets
- Jerry Springer Laid to Rest Near Chicago 3 Days After His Death
- Benny Blanco Reveals Selena Gomez's Rented Out Botanical Garden for Lavish Date Night
- Margot Robbie Leaves Barbie World Behind on Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet
- Carbon Tax Plans: How They Compare and Why Oil Giants Support One of Them
- Celebrate Met Gala 2023 With These Dua Lipa Fashion Moments That Will Blow Your Mind
- Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
- Jennifer Lopez Just Dropped Her Second Exclusive Shoe Collection With Revolve
Ranking
- Justice Department says jail conditions in Georgia’s Fulton County violate detainee rights
- The Truth About Emma Watson's 5-Year Break From Acting
- Proof Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny Are Still Going Strong
- Amazon Reviewers Call These Hydrating Under Eye Patches Magic
- The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $300 Backpack for Just $96
- Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Bring It With Head-Turning Appearance at Met Gala 2023
- Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy Share How Family Struggles Turned Into Incredible Opportunities for Joy
Recommendation
-
New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
-
Dancing With the Stars Is Quickstepping Back to ABC After Move to Disney+
-
Blake Lively Shares Hilariously Relatable Glimpse Into Her At-Home Met Gala 2023 Celebration
-
IBM, Professors Team Up to Train ‘Smart’ Students for a Green Jobs Future
-
Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They’re flooding crisis hotlines
-
34 Mother's Day Gifts for the Athletic Mom: Beats, Lululemon, Adidas, Bala, and More
-
Ariana Madix Appears to React to Joke About Tom Sandoval at White House Correspondents' Dinner
-
See How Rihanna, Kylie Jenner and More Switched Up Their Met Gala Looks for After-Party Attire