Regina King opened up about her son Ian Alexander Jr’s death for the first time on “Good Morning America” on Thursday.
The musician died by suicide in January 2022. He was 26.
The Oscar-winning actress said, “I’m a different person, you know, now than I was Jan. 19. Grief is a journey. I understand that grief is love that has no place to go.”
King said she still feels “guilt,” but she’s dedicated to honoring Ian’s legacy.
King dedicated her upcoming movie “Shirley” to her only child, and she feels his presence daily.
“It’s important to me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present because he is always with me,” she told GMA host Robin Roberts.
The “Poetic Justice” actress said Ian suffered from depression.
“When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way, and they expect it to look heavy.”
“I respect and understand, you know — that he didn’t wanna be here anymore,” the grieving mom said through tears.
“That’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”
Ian, who worked as a DJ, is the actress’s son by her ex-husband, record producer Ian Alexander. The couple divorced in 2007.
