Popular comedian and radio personality, Rickey Smiley, recently shared the tragic news of his son’s untimely death due to a potential drug overdose.
As previously reported by Sis2Sis, Smiley announced the death of his oldest 32-year-old son, Brandon Smiley, on January 29 with an Instagram video.
During an interview with Craig Melvin on Wednesday’s edition of Today, the comedian revealed that his son’s passing is believed to be the result of an overdose, after struggling with substance abuse for several years.
“Yeah, he was struggling with that,” the Rickey Smiley Morning Show host said. “His mother and I made several attempts to try and send him to get the help he needed, send him to rehab. And we thought that he was doing better.”
He added, “he used and it killed him.”
Although Smiley believes his son may have died from an overdose, he emphasized that he does not have certainty about the cause of death and is waiting for the results of toxicology reports.
“But we haven’t got a toxicology report yet,” Smiley said. “But this is just what we are speculating, according to his girlfriend who found him unresponsive.”
The Smiley family has received an outpouring of support from fans and friends in the wake of Brandon’s death.
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In the wake of his son’s passing, Smiley has also doubled efforts in raising awareness of drug addiction and encouraging others to seek help if they or their loved ones are struggling. He is hoping to spare other families the pain and loss that he and his loved ones have experienced.
“We have to have a conversation,” he said. “I think the parents are having the conversation. The problem is getting the kids to listen to these conversations.”
Amid his grief, Smiley reflected that he is “doing good.”
“I still have to do my morning show. I still have to press my way through, pray my way through. Lean on my spirituality,” he said.
