The 'Rickey Smiley for Real' star takes to Instagram to share the 'bad news' that his comedian son has just passed away and quickly receives support from his friends and fellow celebrities.
- Jan 30, 2023
AceShowbiz - Prayers up for Rickey Smiley and his family. The comedian is mourning a great loss as his eldest son Brandon Smiley has just passed away. He broke the sad news via Instagram on Sunday, January 29 as he's on his way to catch a flight to Birmingham to be with his family.
"I just had bad news this morning. I'm on the way to the airport to get to Birmingham. I just want everybody to pray for me, pray for our family," Rickey said in a video. "My son, Brandon Smiley, has passed away this morning."
"I hate to announce this, but I just want to give it to you before you hear it in the streets," Rickey added, before assuring that he is "okay." He continued, "I just want all my cousins and different family members to pray, be strong, and I'm OK. Pray for my son's mother and my son's siblings, everybody that was raised with Brandon."
At one point, however, the father of four appeared to try to compose himself as he said, "Lord have mercy, Jesus." He also admitted that he couldn't fathom the heartbreak that he has to go through.
Rickey didn't share a cause of his son's passing, but he alluded to past family tragedy. "Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt," he lamented. "My granddaddy went through this (expletive) with my dad and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. So just pray for our family."
The actor added in the caption, "I lost my oldest son #BrandonSmiley this morning. I'm okay, but please pray for my son's mother Brenda, his siblings and his daughter Storm."
Rickey has since received a lot of supportive messages from his friends and fellow celebrities. Kandi Buruss commented on the video, "Oh no! I'm so sorry for your loss. I love you & Im praying for you!" Porsha Williams reacted to the shocking news, "I'm so sorry Rickey!!!! We love you and we are praying for you !! May God comfort your whole family at this time as well as loved ones !!"
Mike Epps wrote in the comment section, "Praying for you Rick man." Tamar Braxton added, "I'm so sorry friend," while Niecy Nash similarly said, "I'm so sorry Rickey." Jay Pharoah also extended sympathy as writing, "My heart goes out to you and your family brother, my condolences," while musician Al B. Sure! sent his condolences, "Sorry to hear this news Brother Rickey."
Just hours before announcing his son's passing, Rickey posted a cryptic message about going through hardships with God. "May your battles keep you near the cross, may your struggles show that you need God," it read, "May you battles end the way it should, and may your bad days prove that God is good."
