Renowned for her impact on Hollywood, Regina King is one of the industry’s most celebrated figures. Her career has gained multiple prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Additionally, her influence goes beyond your screens, earning her a spot on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. Juggling the demands of a growing career and the complexities of fame, she remained a devoted mum to her son, a DJ known as Desdune.
Sadly, a devastating incident occurred as her son ended his life. The entire family, including King, fell into the chaos of this loss. According to reports, a spokesperson for the “Poetic Justice” alum officially confirmed that the actress’s son took his life.
Reflections on the Bright Light That Was Desdune
Following the heartbreaking news, King shared her grief, saying, “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.”
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The bond between the “Watchmen” actress and her son was exceptionally strong. In a 2018 interview with USA TODAY, she revealed their matching tattoos on their forearms. The tattoos bore the words “unconditional love” in Aramaic.
She said, “That mama bear thing where I’ll do anything for my child. I’m one of those moms. I will give my right arm — and that’s my writing arm– for my child’s safety.” Desdune, the son of the “Jerry Maguire” star, was a budding DJ and singer-songwriter.
Desdune’s Last Call
Days before his passing, King’s son was actively shaping his future, urging his Instagram followers to “pull up” to his scheduled performance at Bardot on January 28, 2022. He released a fresh single and committed to stopping smoking, linking his cessation to the song’s success on Instagram.
Regina King shares her son with her ex-husband, Ian Alexander Sr. Their marriage lasted from 1997 to 2007. Notably, before the tragic events of January 21, 2022, Alexander Jr. was busy with several projects.
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Beyond his musical pursuits, he demonstrated versatility as a celebrity chef, revealing his future plans to open a restaurant in an interview.
Regina King Supported Her Son
King consistently supported her son’s ambitions over the years. She promoted his then-latest single, “Green Eyes,” on her Instagram, encouraging her followers to tune in. While the sudden loss came as a shock, there may have been indications from Alexender Jr. that he wasn’t faring well.
While mourning and trying to understand the reasons behind Alexander Jr.’s decision, King and her family came across disturbing messages on his Twitter account. He tweeted a sneak peek into his emotional state, saying, “You know that episode of SpongeBob where they go inside his brain? And it’s a bunch of Spongebob just losing their expletive … yeah, that one really hits home [sic].”
He also tweeted about his relationship with social media. Alexneder Jr. noted the negative impact of Instagram on his well-being. His followers acknowledged the post, which received more notice when he died.
Fans United in Grief for Regina King
Several fans responded to the news with heartfelt messages and condolences to King. In an interview, Regina King opened up about the emotional experiences she faced while filming Netflix’s “Seven Seconds.” Playing the role of a grieving mother in the 2019 series, she said that her son brought her more joy than anything else.
Taking on the challenging role of a woman who lost her son for six months, King described it as “terrifying.” The actress shared her joy in being his mum on several occasions. She spoke about her unconditional love for her son.
Alexander Jr.’s Tribute to Mum
In a reciprocal display of affection, Alexander Jr. affirmed that King was a great mother and an inspiration. Marking her 50th birthday, the DJ took to social media with a touching message, calling King a nurturing mother whose support and love were “truly remarkable.”
The close relationship between King and her son extended beyond the typical mother-son duo; you can call them best friends. Notably, Alexander Jr. frequently joined his star mum at various events, showing their strong bond before his tragic death.
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