Regina King’s son Ian Alexander Jr. has tragically died of suicide at the age of just 26.
The Oscar winner confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to PEOPLE on Friday.
“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. Thank you.”
Ian had celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday and always had a close relationship with his mom.
In 2017 she said:
“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,”
“When you experience it, it’s the most fulfilling [thing] ever.”
Regina King's Son Ian Alexander Jr. Dies by Suicide: He 'Cared So Deeply' https://t.co/bjrMJ3V0B2
— People (@people) January 22, 2022
They both had matching tattoos saying ‘unconditional love’.
Ian had shown signs of his struggles in social media posts in the days leading to his death.
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**t…..yea that one really hits home.’
He then tweeted:
‘I don’t think instagram is healthy for me.’
Rest in peace.
