Regina King Admits Feeling 'A Lot Of Guilt' Over Son's Suicide As He Left Telling Tweets Before Death

Regina King is opening up for the first time about the death of her son, Ian Alexander Jr., by suicide.

Speaking to Robin Roberts, the Oscar-winning actress admitted that she still feels "a lot of guilt" over the death of her son, who passed away in January 2022, just days after turning 26.

"When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, 'What could I have done so that wouldn't have happened?'" King said in the interview, which aired on "Good Morning America" Thursday.

The "If Beale Street Could Talk" star discussed her only child's struggle with his mental health, saying, "People expect [depression] to look a certain way, and they expect it to look heavy," before noting that this isn't always the case.

King, who began to cry, said she has had "the time to just sit with Ian's choice" in the two years since his death.

According to the actress, she respected and understood that her son "didn't want to be here anymore."

King acknowledged that this is something people would have difficulty grasping because they "did not live Ian's journey."

The "Watchmen" star admitted that she had been "so angry with God" following Alexander's death and asked, "Why would that weight be given to Ian?"

She shared that Alexander underwent therapy, enrolled in programs, and saw psychiatrists but ultimately felt "tired of talking."

Days before his death, Alexander, whom King shared with her ex-husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr., posted messages that seemingly showed his mental health fears.

"You know that episode of SpongeBob where they go inside his brain and it's a bunch of mini [S]ponge[B]obs just losing their s**t.....yea that one really hits home," the DJ posted on X, formerly Twitter, five days before his passing.

In another post, Alexander Jr. wrote, "I don't think [I]nstagram is healthy for me."

King told Roberts Thursday that her "favorite thing" about herself is "being Ian's mom," and she "can't say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotion that comes with that" if she "did not respect the journey."

The actress said she continues to honor her son by speaking "about him in the present because he's always with me" and celebrating "the joy and happiness that he gave all of us."

"Sometimes his absence is really loud," King shared.

King also said that she has become a "different person" since her son's death and that she understands "grief is a journey" and is "love that has no place to go."

"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'll always be with me," King said.

"And I think I saw somewhere, 'The sadness is a reminder of how much he means to me,' you know?" she added, before agreeing with Roberts that what she's feeling is a "happy sorrow."

Watch King's full "Good Morning America" interview below.

If you or someone you know is struggling or has had suicidal thoughts, confidential help is available for free at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. The line is available 24 hours, every day.