The Real Reason Regina King And Malcolm-Jamal Warner Split
In a time where celebrity relationships are often over before they begin, Regina King and Malcolm-Jamal Warner had a solid two-year run before ending things in March 2013. While they were together, the If Beale Street Could Talk actor and former Cosby Show kid lived together with King's son from her previous marriage. The former child stars knew each other from the time King starred on the sitcom 227, and Warner portrayed Theo Huxtable in the '80s.
Though they had been friends for decades, King and Warner didn't start dating until 2011. The One Night in Miami director once revealed to Parade that the romance came about at just the right time. "I believe the universe has a plan, and we probably wouldn't have been ready years ago," she explained in 2012. "We both had to do whatever we had to do to be ready for each other now."
Although their relationship and its sweet moments certainly made the headlines, it was their breakup that caused an even bigger commotion. So what caused the two to call it quits? Let's take a closer look.
Regina King was reportedly surprised by the breakup
If the sources at Us Weekly have it right, Malcolm-Jamal Warner called things off with Regina King out of the blue — and she was totally stunned. Not to mention the fact that he allegedly asked King and her son to move out of their shared home as well. "They knew each other forever and then out of nowhere he dumped her," the insider told the magazine. "She's ... confused and hurt and doesn't know what happened."
According to the outlet, Warner "wasn't feeling it anymore." He later opened up a little about the split to Sister 2 Sister magazine, sharing (via The Box Houston), "All relationships have their share of obstacles, and you just try not to have yours plastered."
As the Us source claimed, the Southland star was not only "really disappointed" about the breakup in general, but also in the manner in which Warner allegedly did it. And it gets even worse.
Did Malcolm-Jamal Warner break up with Regina King on Valentine's Day?
In January 2015, Us Weekly caught up with Regina King — two years after Malcolm-Jamal Warner ended their relationship — and asked her about a favorite Valentine's Day gift that she's received. Recalling pretty much the worst V-Day someone could ever have, King explained that an ex once dumped her on Feb. 14 but sent her flowers to go with it. YIKES. " ... Someone broke up with me on Valentine's. D**k!" she exclaimed. "Yeah. I'm serious. Then he actually sent me flowers that said, 'I still love you' and I threw the flowers in the trash and he was upset that I threw them in the trash and I was like, 'F**k you.'"
Though King didn't name any names in regards to the one-time boyfriend, she said that people could infer who she was talking about. "They'll know," she told the magazine, which seemingly pointed the finger at Warner. "I love flowers but he thought that was right," she added. "What an a**, right?"
We have to say, nothing pours a little more salt into the wound than getting dumped on Valentine's Day — and then trying to make up for it with a super sad bouquet. But hey, it's clear King is thriving regardless — she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2019, after all.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner appeared to have moved on
Regina King seemingly blasted Malcolm-Jamal Warner in January 2015 — you know, with the whole Valentine's Day fiasco — but later that year, it was clear that he had no hard feelings. In fact, Warner even congratulated her on her historic Emmy win. Taking to Twitter in September 2015, Warner praised King for taking home the golden statuette for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie for her role in American Crime. He wrote, "Thank u 4 representing & affirming that integrity dignity & success CAN coexist!"
Furthermore, in a 2016 interview with Sister 2 Sister magazine (via The Box Houston), Warner said that things were copacetic between him, King, and her son, post-split. "We're all very cool," he told the outlet.
Though King herself may have a different opinion — especially considering her previous remarks and insiders' alleged knowledge of her feelings — it looks as if things are all good on Warner's end. But it's arguably King who comes out on top here: Since their split, she cleaned up at award shows and is halfway to an EGOT as of this writing. You go, queen.