Pamela Warner, Malcolm-Jamal Warner‘s mother, recently sat down for her first interview since her son’s untimely passing. She bravely shared the details surrounding his death, offering a glimpse into the heartbreaking circumstances.
Here’s what she revealed…
In a poignant interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Pamela explained that the beloved actor was in Costa Rica supporting his daughter’s educational journey.
She shared, “His wife and daughter had been in Costa Rica three weeks prior. She is homeschooled, and this was part of an immersion program.”
According to Pamela, the Cosby Show star joined his family during the final week of the program. It was intended to be a joyful reunion, “the fun part of the program.”
His mom also clarified some misinformation, confirming that his daughter wasn’t with him during the incident. Instead, he was accompanied by another man. As she recounted:
“She was not in the water. He was with another gentleman. They were in the water, I think maybe chest deep, even at that — maybe waist deep. There was an undertow, and my son was not an experienced swimmer. He did not know how to deal with an undertow. The same [undertow] happened to the other gentleman, but he was a more experienced swimmer and he was able to rescue himself. But Malcolm was not.”
When asked about the moment she learned of her son’s death, Pamela described a soul-wrenching experience. While the physical pain was unimaginable, she expressed a spiritual acceptance, believing that it was simply his time.
She poignantly shared:
“[That scream] It was from the bottom of my soul. And what came up and what came out was huge, it was an indescribable pain that resonated throughout my body.”
Pamela further added, “The spiritual part of it was — that was his time. This is what I believe and what I feel.”
She also spoke about the profound grief experienced by the actor’s wife and daughter, particularly his daughter:
“Children process differently. She watched them try to resuscitate him, so she saw that, and I know that’s awfully, awfully traumatic. She loved her father dearly. She adored papa — he was papa.”
Pamela’s interview follows the confirmation of Tenisha Warner as the actor’s wife, whose identity had previously been kept private.
Our hearts continue to go out to Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s family during this incredibly difficult time.
