Yahoo Finance Michael Jai White Says His Oldest Son, a Father of 6, Died from COVID at 38
Michael Tran/Getty Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White is opening up about losing his eldest son to COVID-19.
The Black Dynamite star, 53, revealed during a recent interview that his 38-year-old son died "a few months ago" after being hospitalized.
"He was in the hospital for a while so it wasn't immediate," he told VladTV on Sunday of his son's death.
White said that his son had been dealing with substance abuse for some time, and that it further "compromised" his health during his COVID-19 infection.
"Ultimately, when he got sick and went to the hospital, COVID was waiting for him... That was the knockout blow," White said, adding that his son had not been vaccinated against the virus.
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White's oldest son was born when the Arrow actor was 15, and he told VladTV that they "grew up at the same time."
"Unfortunately, he was still kinda out there in the streets hustling, wasn't doing well, started getting on substances," White said. "He'd come out, go back in, all that type of stuff."
Frazer Harrison/Getty Michael Jai White
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White said that while he tried to get his eldest, a father of six, help, "ultimately, it's up to that person, especially if it's a grown person."
"He never shook the streets," he said. "That was his thing."
White is also a father to five other children, not including his stepchildren from his wife Gillian Iliana Waters' previous relationship.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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