VIVICA A. FOX TEARED UP GIVING AN UPDATE ON REGINA KING AFTER HER SON’S DEATH
Vivica Fox sat down with Fox Soul’s Cocktails With Queens and updated fans on the death of Regina King’s son, Ian Alexander Jr.
Ian’s death was ruled a suicide last Monday by the Los Angeles County Coroner. He was King’s only child, whom she shared with her ex-husband, record producer Ian Alexander Sr. Ian took after his father musically and had a career as a deejay.
King has always shared her and her son’s tight relationship in interviews. “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,” she explained.
In 2019, Alexander Jr. told E! News at the Golden Globes that King didn’t allow work and stress to come in between them. “It’s really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with,” he said.
After reuniting with King, Fox assured viewers that King is “so strong” and will push through the pain.
“I just had to go see my friend, my sister,” Fox said. “On the way there I had to call and ask people, ‘What do you say? I’m scared. I don’t want to say something wrong.'”
“More than anything else, I’m glad I got to hug her. Glad I got to look in her eyes. This has absolutely been one of the longest weeks I’ve had in my life. I can’t stop crying,” she explained while holding back tears. “[Regina] said to tell everybody that she’s gotten ya’ll’sya’ll’s texts. The outpouring of love for her, her family, her son, she appreciates it.”
She added, We’re going to get through this, but she’s OK. She wanted me to let everyone know that she appreciates the love and the texts y’all.”
Fox added a suicide awareness message for viewers stating, “I just pray that what we do more than anything else for our sons, for our children — COVID and everything has got everybody in a dark spot, in a dark place,” she said on Monday. “If you see any signs, any signs of someone being in distress, or if somebody reaches out to you that’s just not having a good day, stop, take a moment to make sure that they’re OK.”
She ended her statement by saying, “If you see someone in distress, check on them. Check on ’em. We’ve got people every day — I’ve never thought about suicide in our community and how so many people are taking their own lives that don’t want to be here. That’s the scary part. … But it’s been eye-opening for me. It really has been.”
Fox rest assured that King appreciated the outpouring love she and her family had received.
“I know my friend is OK, y’all. She really is. We’re going to get through this, but we definitely have to start bringing more awareness to mental illness,” she concluded.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
