Regina King's Late Son Left A Devastating Message On Social Media
Academy award-winning actor Regina King is mourning the death of her son, Ian Alexander Jr. The 26-year-old's death by suicide on January 21 came as a shock to his family, who issued a statement to People in response to his tragic passing. "Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian," the statement read. "He is such a bright light who cared so deeply about the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time."
King had been vocal about her close relationship with her son for years. In 2015, the actor revealed to Vulture that she and Alexander got matching tattoos before he went away to school that translate to "unconditional love." "We considered different ones," she said, "but we felt this really embodies how we feel about each other." Displaying their close bond, King gave her son a shoutout in her 2015 Emmy acceptance speech. "The fact that I get to share this night with you, the best date in the house — Aw, man," she said to Alexander. "You make being a mother my greatest accomplishment. I love you."
Fans are now looking back on Alexander's final statements before his death and have found he left behind a devastating message.
Ian Alexander Jr. hinted at his personal struggles
Regina King's son Ian Alexander Jr. gave insight into his mental health online prior to his death by suicide. Alexander tweeted out some very cryptic messages just five days before he died. "You know that episode of SpongeBob where they go inside his brain and it's a bunch of mini spongebobs just losing their s***.....yea that one really hits home,' he tweeted, attaching a photo from the cartoon series. On the same day, Alexander offered his thoughts on the way social media affects him. "I don't think instagram is healthy for me," he tweeted.
Alexander, a DJ who went by "Desduné," also leaves behind positive messages on social media. In celebration of King's birthday in 2021, Alexander penned an extremely touching note to his mother on Instagram. "To be able to watch you take this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is something i will forever be grateful for," he wrote under a sweet photo of the mother and son together. "But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Regina King and Ian Alexander Jr. had a close relationship
To say that Regina King and Ian Alexander Jr. were close would be an understatement. As previously mentioned, they loved each other so much that they even had matching tattoos to symbolize their bond before she sent him off to college. In 2015, the actor told Vulture that they inked the same word in Aramaic, which means "unconditional love." While hers is placed on her left forearm, Ian's ink occupied nearly his entire arm.
"His is huge, from his elbow to his wrist, but he said, 'No, you can't get that size, Mom!'" she recalled. "We considered different ones, but we felt this really embodies how we feel about each other." What's interesting is that they didn't even intend to have the same tattoo at first. "He said, let's choose three [designs] each and not tell each other which ones they are and whichever one is matching, that's the one we're going to get tattooed — and we both chose unconditional love," she said on "The View" in 2017, via People.
King also shared that there's a reason why she's selective about the projects she takes on — it's because she did not want to be an absentee mother. She made sure that she would always have time for her son to see him grow up. "I'm not missing out on his life," she shared. "I don't ever want my son to say, 'Well, the nanny was there.' I would be devastated."
Regina King received an outpouring of support following Ian's death
Many of Regina King's friends in Hollywood are mourning right along with her following the news of Ian Alexander Jr.'s death. Many took to social media to share their condolences and express their support for the star who just lost her one and only child.
"Sending my deepest condolences to my friend @iamreginaking and her entire family, following the passing of her son, Ian," Halle Berry wrote on Instagram, along with a heartwarming photo of King and Alexander. "Regina, I pray the love that you pour into others every day is sent your way, tenfold, during this time." Janet Jackson posted the same photo, saying: "I'm so sorry to hear about Ian. Please know that I am here for u @iamreginaking." Loni Love, who got the chance to meet Alexander personally, shared a sweet anecdote about him on Twitter: "I met Ian at Sherri Shepherd's birthday bash.. he catered the event," she said. "Cooked and served all the food and it was delicious!!!! Such a sweet and talented young man... Rest In Peace."
According to King, she considers being Alexander's mother one of her greatest accomplishments. "You don't know what unconditional love is. You may say you do, but if you don't have a child, you don't know what that is," King said in her Red Chair interview (per CNN). "But when you experience it, it is the most fulfilling ever. So, that is the greatest part about me. Being a mom to Ian."