Actor and comedian Rickey Smiley is mourning the death of his son Brandon Smiley.
Smiley, who starred on “The Rickey Smiley Show” from 2012-2014, took to Instagram on Sunday to share he had some “bad news” to deliver to his followers.
“I hate to announce this, but I just want to give it to you before you hear it in the streets,” Smiley said. “My son Brandon Smiley has passed away this morning.”
Smiley did not specify his son’s cause of death nor give his age. As he was preparing to leave for the airport, Smiley asked people to pray for him and his family.
“I just want all my cousins and different family members to pray, be strong, and I’m OK,” Smiley said. “Pray for my son’s mother and my son’s siblings, everybody that was raised with Brandon.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Smiley’s representatives for further details.
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While he didn’t provide any details on Brandon’s death, the “Dish Nation” alum alluded to past family tragedy as he spoke about his own grief.
“Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt,” Smiley said. “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.”
A number of Smiley’s famous friends flooded the comments section of his video with words of support.
“I’m so sorry Rickey,” actress Niecy Nash wrote.
“My heart goes out to you and your family brother,” comedian Jay Pharoah commented. “My condolences.”
“Oh no! I’m so sorry for your loss,” Xscape singer Kandi Burruss wrote. “I love you (and) I’m praying for you!”
“I’m so sorry friend,” TV personality and singer Tamar Braxton commented.
“Condolences brother,” singer CeeLo Green wrote.
This isn’t the first time Smiley has opened up about hard times in his family life. In July 2020, Smiley shared that his youngest daughter Aaryn was shot during an alleged road rage incident.
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