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In 2023, he reaffirmed his pride in the show’ s cultural significance, while acknowledging the effects of the scandal on its broadcast and justice for the actors( loss of income):“ Regardless of how some people may feel... I’ m still proud of the legacy...” More recently, he notes that the withdrawal of reruns has direct financial impacts:“ It’ s literally taking money out of my pocket.”.
Love life: discretion, depth and respect
Warner has always protected his private life, away from Hollywood scandals. However, a few notable relationships have marked his career. In the 1990s, he enjoyed a high-profile relationship with Michelle Thomas, who played Justine Phillips- his girlfriend on The Cosby Show. Their story, both on screen and off, was tender and genuine. Warner remained very close to her until her tragic death from cancer in 1998, at the age of 30. He was at her bedside during her final moments.
“ Losing Michelle... it broke me. She was light. Pure light.“( posthumous statement quoted in 2005) Later, he maintained a discreet relationship, notably with actress Regina King in the 2010s. Their couple, often photographed but rarely commented on, remained respectful and professional, even after their separation.
Flashmag! Edition 163 Aout 2025
In 2018, Warner became a father for the first time, the fruit of his relationship with a partner who remained outside the public sphere. He declared in 2019:“ Being a father has changed me. It’ s given me a new sense of purpose, of what legacy really means.“ This fatherhood, though intimate, was evident in his artistic projects: more introspective, more inhabited, more profound. Regina King( L) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner( R) in New York City in November 2009. JIMI CELESTE / Patrick McMullan via Getty
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