Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow opens up about his ‘unfair’ death

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow, who only went public with her identity following the beloved actor’s fatal drowning in July 2025, emotionally reflected on his “unfair” death in a rare interview this week amid suing her mother-in-law for $1.2 million.

Monday marked a year since “The Cosby Show” alum died during a family vacation in Costa Rica. He was 54.

RELATED: Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow sues his mom for $1.2 million 1 year after his death

Also Monday, news broke that Tenisha Warner — who shares a young daughter with the late actor — had sued Pamela Warner, who that night posted a statement about her grieving process. She also cryptically referred to “how cruel, evil and greedy a human can be,” as well as having “discovered the depth of love, care, concern and support that humans are capable of.”

TMZ reported Tuesday that Tenisha had filed the lawsuit on the anniversary of her husband’s sudden death. The interview Tenisha did with “CBS Mornings” co-anchor Gayle King preceded news of the filing, with King dubbing it “surprising.”

Tenisha told Gayle King on a “CBS Mornings” interview that aired Thursday, Warner’s death was the “worst day of my life.”

“[It] feels unfair. All I could think about was my daughter, and what I needed to do to continue to be her mother and be her only parent,” said Tenisha, who holds a doctorate in psychology. “I think my body went through shock.”

“He is here with me always,” said Tenisha, who “can’t walk away” from their home where their “memories are.”

“For us, because we’re his wife and child, there’s no moving on. … There’s moving with, and living with,” she said.

“There’s not a moment in my day that I’m not affected.” Tenisha said that all of Warner’s family is “grieving,” having suffered “the biggest loss.”

Tenisha went public in September as she announced a scholarship program, The Warner Family Foundation, and a child-parent bonding initiative, River & Ember.

She alleges in her lawsuit that Warner did not make good on the terms of their prenuptial agreement.

Tenisha spent the year after Warner’s death trying “to privately settle my beloved husband’s complicated estate and honor his last wishes,” according to a statement her spokesperson gave to CBS.

“Malcolm had every intention to provide for our 9-year-old daughter and me. He was close to finalizing a new estate plan to replace the stale plan created … 20 years before we met,” she said. “Sadly, he was unable to do so before we lost him.”