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 21st came as a shock to his family,
who issued a statement to People in response to his tragic passing. The statement read:
"Our family is devastated at the deepest level by the loss of Ian.
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. Displaying their close bond,
King gave her son a shoutout in her 2015 Emmy acceptance speech, saying:
"The fact that I get to share this night with you, the best date in the house — Aw,
man. 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. gave insight into his mental health online prior to his death by suicide.
Alexander tweeted out some cryptic messages just five days before he died. He tweeted:
"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."
On the same day, Alexander offered his thoughts on the way social media affects him, saying:
"I don't think instagram is healthy for me."
Alexander 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. 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."
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. As King recalled:
"His is huge, from his elbow to his wrist, but he said, 'No, you can't get that size, Mom!
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 design at first.
"Well let's choose three 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."
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. She shared:
"I'm not missing out on his life. I don't ever want my son to say,
'Well, the nanny was there.' I would be devastated."
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.
Halle Berry shared a heartwarming photo of King and Alexander on Instagram,
along with the caption:
"Sending my deepest condolences to my friend [Regina King]
and her entire family, following the passing of her son, Ian."
Janet Jackson posted the same photo, saying:
"Please know that I am here for u [Regina King]. I pray the love that
you pour into others every day is sent your way, tenfold, during this time."
According to King, she considers being Alexander's mother one of
her greatest accomplishments. She said in her Red Chair interview:
"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. But when you experience it, it is the most fulfilling ever.
So, that is the greatest part about me. Being a mom to Ian."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts,
please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.