Michael K. Williams Showed No Signs Of 'Sliding Back' In Addiction Before Fatal Overdose, Says Nephew

More than seven months since Michael K. Williams died, his nephew is opening up about the tragic situation surrounding his shocking demise.

Michael K. Williams Showed No Signs Of ‘Sliding Back’ In Addiction Before Fatal Overdose, Says Nephew

More than seven months since the world lost actor Michael K. Williams, his loved ones are opening up about the tragic situation surrounding his shocking demise.

Williams suddenly passed away on September 6 after fatally overdosing on fentanyl-laced heroin in his New York apartment.

Now, his nephew Dominic Dupont, who discovered his body, is discussing his battle with substance addiction and how he was trying to do better before his death.

Michael K. Williams’ Nephew Said He Was Doing Well Before Overdose

In this week’s episode of Red Table Talk, Dupont made an appearance to talk about his beloved uncle.

While chatting with hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Jones, and Willow Smith, in a teaser clip shared ahead of Wednesday, Dupont shared he noticed no signs of his uncle struggling with his addiction.

“He was doing well,” Dupont recalled. “He was working on a book. It did not appear to me that Mike was sliding back into addiction.”

Dupont, who has been out of prison for four and a half years after serving an almost 21-year-long sentence, said since he has been back home, there were no signs that the “Django Unchained” star was “overwhelmed or dealing with major issues.”

The bereaved nephew explained that the late Critics Choice Award winner tried hard not to allow his struggles to weigh on those around him. Hence, it was unlikely to notice if anything was indeed wrong.

“He was an actor, right? And you know, you can fool people. You can fool people that you’re okay” Dupont mentioned.

Although he couldn’t ascertain if his famous uncle was hiding his addiction struggles or not, Dupont is sure of one thing concerning Williams’ demise.

“What I would say is this: I’m positive that he would not have knowingly taken fentanyl,” Dupont declared, to which the co-hosts wholeheartedly agreed.

“I know that like I know my first name,” Dupont reiterated.

The Grieved Nephew Found ‘The Wire’ Actor Dead

Dupont also discussed the moment he found Williams’ dead body in his Brooklyn apartment.

He shared that he had not heard from the Hollywood star on that fateful day in September, so he decided to go to his home to check on him.

Dupont recalled shopping with his wife and remembering Williams had some work to do the day after but for unknown reasons the actor had been radio silent.

Feeling concerned, he went over to the “Lovecraft Country” star’s home and went upstairs to his room when he first noticed something odd.

“I went upstairs, opened up his door, and it was quiet — Michael always played music — that wasn’t the case,” Dupont revealed.

While calling out for his uncle, Dupont stumbled on Williams’ lifeless body and immediately called for help.

In his words: “I immediately called 911 and they said, ‘Listen, do you want to start some compressions?’ And I said, ‘I’m telling you … he’s deceased. He’s gone. He’s cold.”

Williams’ death was ruled an accidental overdose and the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City declared that he died of “acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.”

The Drug Dealers Have Been Charged

In February, a group of four men was arrested in connection with Williams’ death after selling him fentanyl-laced heroin. As The Blast reported, footage of the deadly drug deal was released by authorities.

The late star was seen purchasing the drugs in a hand-to-hand deal that took place on September 5 in broad daylight near residential apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The four men — Irving Cartagena, Hector Robles, Luis Cruz, and Carlos Macci — were arrested and charged by a New York federal court with crimes connected to the drug transaction.

Cartagena was charged with distributing the laced heroin to Williams while the other three were charged with conspiracy.

Williams was often open about his struggles with drug addiction. In a 2012 interview, he spoke about it, saying, “It was just a matter of time before I got caught and my business ended up on the cover of a tabloid or I went to jail or, worse, I ended up dead. When I look back on it now, I don’t know how I didn’t end up in a body bag.”

May his soul continue to rest in peace.