What happened to Rickey Smiley’s son? The actor/comedian has been quiet following the death of his son roughly a month ago. However, the Alabama-bred star has just released a new interview addressing the sensitive topic.
On Thursday (March 2), Smiley conducted a live interview with Craig Melvin (TODAY) to discuss the death of his eldest son, Brandon Smiley, 32, who passed away on Jan. 29, 2023.
Melvin conversed with Smiley: “You get the call that no parent wants to get — that your child has passed away. What happened, Rick?”
Smiley explained, “I was in Dallas in my apartment getting ready to watch the playoffs and his girlfriend called. She said that–in her words–that he had OD’d.”
Smiley said an official death cause is still pending and they’re also awaiting the toxicology report. Suicide or foul play is not presumed to have played a part in Brandon’s passing.
What Happened to Rickey Smiley’s Son? The Comedian Reveals All
Smiley said his son had a history of substance abuse. “He was struggling with that. His mother and I made several attempts to try to send him to get the help that he needed — send him to rehab,” said Smiley. “We thought that he was doing better — he had just joined the church and he had just gotten baptized again probably a month before he passed away.”
Smiley went on: “He used, and it killed him. We just assume that if you’re in a good school district or you’re in a gated community or everything is going good that these kids are not doing drugs,” Smiley said. “You don’t have to be in the hood to succumb to drug abuse.” Though his son’s death “shocked” him, the “Friday After Next” trouper noted he was “not surprised.”
“Deep inside, I was kind of prepared for it, but at the same time when it happens you can never be prepared because that’s your child,” said Smiley.
The radio personality added: “The God that we serve is just awesome — He has given me peace that surpasses all understanding. If anything makes me cry, it’s God’s goodness to be able to get out of the bed, to be able to do my morning show, to be able to protect my kids, my grandkids, and the rest of my family. So, I just thank God for His grace and His mercy.”
R.I.P. Brandon Smiley. Our deepest prayers go out to the family.
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