Riley Keough says mom Lisa Marie Presley tried to stay strong for her daughters but died of 'broken heart'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lisa Marie Presley, who died at 53 in 2023, is in the spotlight as her daughter Riley Keough revealed how deeply her mother was affected by the tragic loss of Riley's brother, Benjamin, who died by suicide in 2020.

In a heartfelt reflection, Riley discussed the toll of grief on Lisa, emphasizing that it ultimately "broke her heart." She shared poignant insights into how both she and her mother coped with this devastating loss, highlighting the profound connection between love, heartbreak, and healing. 

As Riley navigated her own path through grief, she shed light on the legacy of resilience and hope that Lisa wished to share with the world.

Riley Keough says her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, tried 'her best to find strength'

Riley Keough opened up about the profound impact that grief had on her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley. 

In an interview, Riley reflected on her brother Benjamin's suicide at age 27 in 2020 and its connection to their mother's death at 53, which resulted from a small-bowel obstruction following bariatric surgery several years earlier. 

Notably, Lisa Marie shared Riley and Benjamin with her ex-husband Danny Keough and had 15-year-old twins Finley and Harper with ex Michael Lockwood. 

“My mom tried her best to find strength for me and my younger sisters after Ben died, but we knew how much pain she was in,” says Riley, 35. “My mom physically died from the after effects of her surgery, but we all knew she died of a broken heart.”

Lisa Marie Presley had revealed she would never 'move on' from her son Benjamin Keough's death

Lisa Marie was openly expressive about her grief as she stated in a 2022 essay for PEOPLE that she would never “move on” from Benjamin's death. In her posthumous memoir 'From Here to the Great Unknown', she shares that she and Riley found healing “by helping people.” One young person reached out to Riley, and said, “I didn’t kill myself last night because of what you said it would do to my family and those that are left behind. So thank you." 

This message brought Riley comfort. She also found solace in Nick Cave’s 2016 documentary 'One More Time with Feeling', which she describes as "a beautiful portrayal of grief."

To complete 'From Here to the Great Unknown', a promise she made to Lisa Marie before her death, Riley listened to recorded memories her mother had shared. Writing about her brother’s death and her mother’s struggles with addiction and eventual death was incredibly challenging for Riley. 

Through the memoir, she hopes readers will connect with the human experiences of love, heartbreak, loss, addiction, and family. “[My mom] wanted to write a book in the hopes that someone could read her story and relate to her, to know that they’re not alone in the world,” Riley explains. “Her hope with this book was just human connection.” 

Riley will further discuss the book in a special with Oprah Winfrey, airing on CBS and Paramount+ on October 8, the same day the book is released. From 'Here to the Great Unknown' by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough will be available for preorder now at bookstores.

Riley Keough's beliefs on Lisa Marie Presley’s death sparks discussion online

Riley Keough’s thoughts on Lisa Marie Presley’s death elicited mixed reactions online, with some people agreeing and others disagreeing. Notably, several individuals shared their personal experiences, resonating with Lisa Marie Presley’s deep sorrow over her son Benjamin Keough’s death.

One disagreed with Riley Keough's belief on Lisa's death and claimed, "Unfortunately that’s untrue she actually died from an intestinal blockage from weight loss surgery contrary to what everyone else thinks! However I am sure she was really sad…"

Another user said, "I agree with her on that," and one user shared an avatar sticker denoting 100% authenticity.

Someone else wrote, "As a mother who lost her son when he was just 17 I can totally relate to her situation. Grief can overwhelm your desire to stay in the world that allowed your child to die. So sad two lives gone.”

One person on Facebook said, “May no parent suffer tihis grief of losing a child.” Another social media user claimed, “Well our emotions do often relate to our illnesses to a degree. We all know what stress does to us and when we get angry.” One individual shared, “Technically, Lisa Marie died of a bowel obstruction. But whatevs.”

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.