Kaylah Walton
Riley Keough has addressed the narrative surrounding her family’s hardships, rejecting the notion of a “curse” and instead highlighting that they face challenges similar to those encountered by many.
While speaking at the Jerry Moss Theater in Los Angeles, the 35-year-old actress opened up about the deaths of her grandfather Elvis Presley, mother Lisa Marie Presley, and brother Benjamin Keough, underlining how addiction and grief played pivotal roles in their stories.
According to Riley, the term “curse” often arises due to the mythologizing of her family.
She emphasized that their struggles, largely tied to addiction, resonate with many people’s experiences of losing loved ones or facing similar issues.
“I hope future generations will have less difficulty with addiction,” she added.
Sadly, Lisa Marie passed away in January 2023 due to cardiac arrest at age 54, while her brother Benjamin died by suicide in 2020 at age 27, a tragic event that Riley believes had a profound effect on her mother.
The impact of loss on Lisa Marie Presley
During an Oprah Winfrey special, Riley revealed her realization of her mother’s drastic change following Benjamin’s death.
She shared, “When my brother died, I thought, ‘This is the end of her,'” reflecting on their close-knit relationship.
She drew parallels between Lisa Marie’s bond with Benjamin and that of Elvis and his mother Gladys.
In the weeks preceding her mother’s death, Riley expressed growing concern, noticing signs of her mother’s emotional distress. When asked by Oprah about possible drug use, Riley rejected that notion.
She described, “It felt like she was just tired, not under the influence of drugs.”
Lisa Marie was laid to rest next to her father and son at Graceland’s meditation garden, a place Riley finds emotionally difficult to visit yet offers solace in quiet introspection.
In her posthumous book, *From Here to the Great Unknown*, Lisa Marie disclosed her unique method of coping with Benjamin’s passing. She kept his body at home for two months to process her grief and bid farewell. Riley, who completed the memoir after her mother’s death, described it as a reflection of Lisa Marie’s nurturing nature.
“She wanted to continue caring for him, even after he was gone,” Riley explained.
Riley hopes that through her reflections, her family can find healing and pave the way toward a healthier future, distinct from their past struggles.
