Marie Osmond Talks to Oprah About Son's Suicide: 'I Knew Something Was Wrong'

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 11th 2010 04:52PM

Nearly nine months after her son's tragic death by suicide, Marie Osmond is finally opening up about her loss. Osmond's 18-year-old son, Michael Blosil, took his own life by jumping off a Los Angeles apartment building in February. The singer, who adopted Michael with ex-husband Brian Blosil, told Oprah of the tragedy, "I've been through some tough things in my life [but] this is probably the hardest thing I've been through."

Osmond admitted to understanding her son's plight, having suffered from post-partum depression herself. One of their last conversations was telling, she says. "When I heard him say to me 'I have no friends,' it brought back when I went through depression," she said. "Because you really feel so alone."

"I said, 'Mike, I'm going to be there Monday, and it's going to be OK,' but depression doesn't wail til Monday."

Osmond painfully recalled the night that Michael died, starting with a phone call from him just as she was going on stage during her Vegas show. She said that she was going through a costume change when her phone rang. "I couldn't get to it," she admitted. Later when she called him back, he didn't pick up.

"I believe in female intuition. I especially believe in mother's intuition. I knew something was wrong."

She asked her daughter to stay with her that night in the hotel and at 2 AM the phone rang. On the other line was a security guard from her gated community. "[He] said 'there are some people here to see you. It's the police I believe' ... He said, 'well it's the coroner's office.'"

"I knew it was Michael," she said with tears streaming.

According to the police report, the time of death was around 9:30 PM. Osmond told Oprah that he called her about 45 minutes before that. "You know some particulars are so in stone, other things are just like this wave that comes in and out of your heart. I've been through some tough times in my life, Oprah. This is probably the hardest thing I've ever been through."

When asked by Oprah if she thought things would have been different if she had just spoken to Michael when he called, Osmond responded by saying, "I think if you live in 'what ifs,' you stop living."

While many media outlets have reported that Michael's suicide stemmed from the conflict between his Mormon upbringing and his reported homosexuality, Osmond denied these claims. "My son was not gay," she said. "And it wouldn't matter if he was."

She added, "I know I'll see him again because of what I believe."

She told Oprah that Blosil started abusing drugs when he was 12 and took several trips to rehab, however, she disputed any notion that narcotics played a role in his death.

"My son was clean when he jumped," she said of the teen, who was a student at L.A.'s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. "There were no drugs in his system, but I believe that the ramifications of them were there. That was the hard part."

Blosil left a suicide note, and Osmond did her best to summarize it: "He basically said he knew that morning was the last time he would get up and brush his teeth, make his bed, those kinds of things. He had made his decision, I guess. And uh, [he wrote] that he loved his family ... The pain was so intense."

Osmond also confirmed rumors that her son had attempted suicide while she was competing on 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2007. "During that time I was going through a very public divorce. Going through custody battles ... and he received some news that something had happened to some of his family members ... and he couldn't deal with it. He promised he would never do it again."

Tags: Marie Osmond

Comments

(312)

Thursday 11 November

By MOM and DAD

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Suicide is a terrible thing to do to yourself and those around you. You may think no one will care, you may think that it would be better for you and others. DON'T LEAVE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS WITH THIS PAIN. IF YOU NEED HELP PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GET IT CHECK YOURSELF INTO A HOSPITAL IF YOU HAVE TO. REACH OUT TO SOMEONE PLEASE.

By Kevin

Hi MOM and DAD, I know what your saying, About four years ago i was real depressed because my biz was failing and my wife of 21 years was unhappy and left me(divorce) and took my daughter with her who was 16 at the time and left me with every thing, I tried so hard to hate her for hurting me and be happy but i couldn't I still loved her. I cried behind everyones back and pretended to be happy and be like everyone thought i should be I one day after thinking about killing my self which was about the fifth time i had done that I thought real long about it and planded how i was going to do it, I looked to my right side and saw my daughters face smiling like she was standing right there and i said to myself no i can't do this because she loves me and i know it I'll hurt her but if i don't stop thinking like this i will do it because i was getting more brave and i wanted to stop hurting, so i looked up at the only one that i new could help me and that was GOD I looked up at GOD said GOD you lead me and i will follow not knowing what to expect because i didn't know him I had only heard of him, well the next night i got a phone call from my brother and the first thing out of his mouth was this, Hey kevin can i ask you a question and i said sure go a head and he said what do you think about going to church with me tomorrow night? and i turned around and looked up at god with a big smile and said sure i would like that and he said what did you say and i said it again and he was shocked and said well ok and told me where to go, well i got saved that night two months later I stoped drinking then a year after that i got baptised and joined the church and now i am better than i have been in a long time. That was all gods doings he will help you and lead you if you believe in him and jesus, me and my daughter are closer now than ever and she has given me three beautiful grand daughters and i am real happy now.

Friday 12 November

By Martina

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What a joke. First off, some people like me, have NO FAMILY. And because of a physical disability where I'm in a wheelchair, can't get around to make many friends either. So, don't be so presumptuous about anyone caring if I live or die. And seeking "help" by being sent to a nut-house with violent crazy people because I'm lonely and wish I was in heaven instead of in a wheelchair all alone in this hell would be insult to injury for me. Who wouldn't rather be dead than I'm my situation?

By robin

Mom and Dad

Great advise. People who are suicidal do feel hopeless, helpless and worthless. They often feel that their lives will not improve and in many cases that other's truly do not care about them. Help is available, tell someone if you are feeling suicidal, call a helpline or contact your family doctor. Each and every life is so precious, to lose even one to suicide is one too many. As people give their opinions here I would just like to say that everything we say is heard and everything we do is seen, so Mike if your children hear and see your attitude surrounding suicide you can bet if they are ever feeling suicidal they will not tell you as you have very loudly and clearly shown your attitude, one to be feared not one to go to for help. For everyone who has lost a loved one to suicide my heart goes out to you, may god bless.

By ManicD

Poor Poor Marie, it just goes to show that EVERYONE has sorrows in their lives. I remember when she went through all that depression, she toughed through only to suffer this tragedy. I always liked the Osmonds. Their music was not my taste, but they seemed to love each other and who can find any wrong in that. I'm not too sure Oprah would have been my choice as a shoulder to cry on, (a bit too ambitious)I don't trust her motives OR her sincerity. But if it gave Marie some peace, then who am I to judge? God Bless, Marie.

By lola

a little oprah bashing why?

LOLA.....THATS WHAT YOU TOOK OUT OF ALL THAT??? OK, I'll answer. WHY NOT?? Do you think oprah will lose any sleep, after finding out that I don't like her?? I'd like to think the answer would be yes, but I have a "fair grasp" on reality and I'm thinkin' the most likely answer would be a big FAT NO. So instead of sticking up for HARPO, FIND SOME SYMPATHY FOR Marie. After all, she is who this story was about.......BTW, I LOVE THE NAME LOLA.

By stu

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the guy was going to the Fashion Institude of Design school=gay.
don't hate= i am a gay man too.
ps: i ate @ the same restaurant as Donnie & his son about a year ago. He's still hot! But chews w/ his mouth open

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Nah Stu, when you've got that much money...someone does your chewin' for ya......

By ann vitasek

so very sad.

By oliver

Marie, Our sympathy goes out to you and your family, and I too believe you will see your son again one day. Take Care, and know there are many who share your sorrow.

By sheila

Mike, you are right on target. I cannot give the woman pity. I am a mother as well, you know when your child talks to you to take the time away from your life and be with them when they need you. I am just sick that the child felt this was his only way out. His MOTHER should have done more, instead of crying on Oprah, Great acting job

By glapril

Sheila, it must be hard to be you being so perfect and all that. Let us know when your imperfect status changes.

Saturday 13 November

By Mary

I truly feel this woman's pain. I lost a twin son to suicide 18 months ago. My story is so similiar to Marie's. He was an adult living in another state. The evening before his suicide he had called, but my purse was in the trunk of the car with my cell phone. He left a message...." Ilove you, mom." I had an intuition that something was wrong, but I never could reach him by phone. I called several times. No answer. The next morning he hung himself and someone called me around 1pm that day to tell me.
If you haven't lost a child to suicide, you haven't a clue about the depth of the pain! It is the most emotional pain a person can ever have. And it will never go away. I think of him every day.

Tuesday 16 November

By Jym-Ann

I watched the Oprah show today. I can't get it out of my mind. Marie spoke with such heartfelt sorrow and continued to show grace and dignity. God Bless you for sharing your pain in the hopes of saving others. You are right, you will see him again. God Bless, A Fan

By julie

why did she do that to her lips?

By dlj

you would think she would put that time into the rest of her kids instead of trying to look 18 again...it just isn't her lips that have gotten big! fake...if her marriage was that aweful...get out that in itself helps the children!

By XXXXXXXXX

She should have been home with him instead of being a money hungry biatch................

By codifex maximus

To see Marie Osmond with that pained look on her face just tears me up. Such a lovely lady. I don't know what I'd do if I lost a son but Marie Osmond sure sets a good example for the rest of us.

By icdou007

Marie I wanted to hug you through the TV set. You've always been strong and religious, lean on God and faith. You keep him alive in your heart and stories.

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