Rickey Smiley Calls Son Brandon Smiley's Death a "Terrible Nightmare"
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Comedian Rickey Smiley is grieving the loss of his 32-year-old son, Brandon Smiley, who passed away recently.
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In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Rickey opened up about the impact of his son's death on himself and his family.
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The 11-minute clip, filmed a day after Brandon's passing, showed Rickey expressing his grief and the sadness that is settling in on him and the rest of the family.
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"I never thought I would be part of an organization where you have to bury your kids," Rickey stated. "It's a terrible nightmare."
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The 54-year-old went on to describe his emotions as overwhelming and intense. "Tears are coming down your eyes but you ain't crying," he said. "And then you crying and ain't no tears coming down your eyes."
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Rickey shared that the tragedy has affected his family members differently. His mother is shaken by the loss of her grandson, but it has hit his youngest son, Malik, the hardest.
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Throughout the video, Rickey reflected on his parenting journey and expressed regret for not being perfect.
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However, he emphasized that he tried his best and did not play any games when it came to being a good father. A memorial for Brandon has been scheduled for February 4 in Rickey's hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
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In the wake of Brandon's death, Rickey has been leaning on his faith and expressing his gratitude for the good years he spent with his son.