Regina King pays tribute to her late son Ian Alexander Jr. nearly one year after his tragic death

Regina King paid tribute to the life of her only son Ian Alexander Jr. in a moving post shared to Instagram on Thursday, nearly one year after his death by suicide.

King, 52, shared a short video of an orange paper lantern floating high into the air while elevated by a candle burning within it that was lit in Ian’s honor.

Although she shared the video shortly before the anniversary of his death, it was filmed to mark what would have been his 27th birthday on January 19.

Despite the seemingly somber occasion, King’s family members could be heard cheering on the moving display in the background as the lantern floated toward a large tree in the distance.

‘January 19th is Ian’s Worthday. As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence,’ King wrote in her caption.  ‘We are all in different places on the planet…so is Ian. His spirit is the thread that connects us.’

She noted that the sky lantern was orange because it was his ‘favorite color,’ representing ‘the fire and the calm.’

She added that her son would also have a presence with her. 

‘I see you in everything I breath,’ wrote the Oscar-winning actress. ‘My absolute favorite thing about myself is being ….Regina the mother of Ian the GodKing. Continue to shine bright, my guiding light 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡.’

Sweet: King filmed a floating lantern, which was orange because it was Ian’s ‘favorite color…Its the fire and the calm.’ Her family could be heard in the video cheering on the ascending flame

Missing him: ‘I see you in everything I breath,’ wrote the Oscar-winning actress. ‘My absolute favorite thing about myself is being ….Regina the mother of Ian the GodKing. Continue to shine bright, my guiding light’

Several of King’s friends commented with orange hearts to show their support, including Tracee Ellis Ross and Holly Robinson Peete, while Octavia Spencer posted a row of praying hands.

The filmmaker Ava DuVernay quoted Roisin Kelly: ‘I’ll choose for myself next time who I’ll reach out and take as mine, in the way I might stand at a fruit stall having decided to ignore the apples, the mangoes and the kiwis. But hold my hands above a pile of oranges as if to warm my skin before a fire.’

Thursday’s post marked King’s return to Instagram after not sharing any posts since just before Ian’s untimely death.

The If Beale Street Could Talk actress shared her son with her ex-husband, the music producer Ian Alexander Jr., to whom she was married from 1997 to 2007.

Family: The If Beale Street Could Talk actress shared her son with her ex-husband, the music producer Ian Alexander Jr., to whom she was married from 1997 to 2007; seen in 2019

Ian Jr. shared his father’s love of music and had his own flourishing career as a DJ, and he was on track to release new music shortly after his death.

Days before his death, he shared a final Twitter post in which he wrote, ‘I don’t think instagram is healthy for me.’

King previously spoke about the joy and power of being a single parent as she raised her son. 

‘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 said. ‘When you experience it, it’s the most fulfilling [thing] ever.’

She and her son were bonded in life with matching tattoos reading ‘unconditional love’ written in Aramaic, with Ian’s on his shoulder and her tattoo on her arm, according to People.

If you or a loved one needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255. 

So much promise: Ian Jr. shared his father’s love of music and had his own flourishing career as a DJ, and he was on track to release new music shortly after his death