The adult son of Christian radio host and comedian Rickey Smiley has died, Smiley announced in a social media video.
Smiley posted on Instagram on Sunday that his son Brandon Smiley, 32, died over the weekend.
"I hate to announce this, but I just want to give it to you before you hear it in the streets," Smiley shared. "My son Brandon Smiley has passed away this morning."
Smiley recorded the video while he waited for a car to take him to an airport to fly to Birmingham, Alabama.
Smiley did not go into detail about how his son died but asked for prayers for 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."
Smiley told viewers that after his own father died, his grandparents had to bury their son.
"Life comes with a whole bunch of twists and turns," he added. "Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt. My granddaddy went through this **** with my dad, and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. So just pray for our family."
According to The Christian Post, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office in Alabama said authorities found Brandon "unresponsive in his home Sunday morning shortly after 10 a.m." He was transported to a local hospital, where he died shortly after.
Police say there is no evidence of foul play.
"I'm devastated to hear that my friend @RickeySmiley has lost his son Brandon," Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin tweeted. "Rickey has given so much to our city; this is the time when we need to give back to him. Join me in wrapping our arms around him & his family during this difficult time. We're praying for you, Rickey."
I'm devastated to hear that my friend @RickeySmiley has lost his son Brandon.
— Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) January 29, 2023
Rickey has given so much to our city; this is the time when we need to give back to him. Join me in wrapping our arms around him & his family during this difficult time. We're praying for you, Rickey.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Mike Coppola/Staff
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
