Heartbreaking final photos of Regina King’s son Ian show him toasting with his mother during an interview weeks before the suicide | Latest News Headlines

Heartbreaking final photos of Regina King spending New Year’s Eve with her late son Ian Alexander Jr. just weeks before he took his own life.

Ian, who took his own life on his 26th birthday on Wednesday, was shown giving a toast.

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The 51-year-old Oscar-winning actress confirmed the death of her only child on Friday in a statement in which she called Ian “a shining light who cared so deeply for the happiness of others.”

In the latest photographs, she was pictured with Ian and a man named Brandon, whom she called her “bonus son”, during a virtual appearance on Cooper and Cohen’s New Year’s Eve show.

They seemed to be in good spirits, toasting to each other at a big family celebration.

In the interview, King said, “Twenty years, we’re all together, this whole family of people is together because of these two [Ian and Brandon] and their lives together that brought us together. And we also drink in the spirit of inclusivity.

Ian could be seen throughout the interview smiling and drinking as his mum Regina discussed his career highlights.

King then jokes that “things drink better”, to which his son Ian jovially raises his glass of Diageo, a London-based drinks company which he says operates “in the spirit of progress”.

King’s spokesperson confirmed his son’s death in a statement Saturday.

A statement read: “Our family is devastated on the deepest level by the loss of Ian.

“He is such a bright light who cared so deeply for the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.

Read our Ian Alexander Jr live blog for all the latest news and updates…

Ian’s latest posts on Twitter revealed he felt like he was “losing his shit”.

Five days before he killed himself, he tweeted: “You know that episode of SpongeBob SquarePants where they get into his brain and it’s a bunch of mini Spongebob Squarepants losing their shit…..yes this one- there really hits home.”

In a separate post, he said: “‘I don’t think Instagram is healthy for me.’

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If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.