It’s been a tough week for Mingus Reedus, the son of “The Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus and supermodel Helena Christensen. Just a day after his arrest for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Mingus reportedly made a worrying comment. On Sunday, August 24, he was seen outside his New York City apartment. He was carrying his cat in a bag and wore the same green shorts and black t-shirt from his court appearance. That’s when, according to The New York Post, he said, “Do you want to see me kill myself?”
This recent incident kicked off with an alleged assault that led to his police custody. Us magazine confirmed his arrest on Saturday, August 23. Mingus, who is 25, is due back in court on Tuesday, August 26. He faces charges of reckless physical injury, aggravated harassment, and harassment in the second degree, as reported by TMZ. He’s pleaded not guilty to all counts.
During his court appearance on Saturday, Mingus was also heard making a rude remark. As he left the courtroom, he reportedly called a nearby reporter “ugly.” His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, quickly issued a statement that same day. She explained that the charges against Mingus are misdemeanors. Chaudhry stressed that the judge released Mingus on his own word, meaning no bail or supervision was required. “That important court decision makes the message louder,” Chaudhry told TMZ. “Mingus is innocent until proven guilty and has pleaded not guilty. As the facts become clear, his innocence will be clear.”
So far, neither Norman Reedus nor Helena Christensen, both 56, have spoken publicly about what happened. Us magazine did reach out to them for comment after Mingus’s arrest.
Sadly, this isn’t Mingus’s first run-in with the law. Back in September 2021, he was arrested in New York City for assaulting an unknown woman. At the time, Mingus told the New York Daily News that the alleged victim and her friends were drunk. He claimed they “came at him as a group,” and he simply “threw his arm” to defend himself. He ended up pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. The Sun reported that he was ordered to attend five counseling sessions because of that incident. His lawyer then, Isabelle Kirshner, told People magazine that the charges were “baseless” and insisted Mingus was actually the victim.
Norman Reedus also has a 6-year-old daughter named Nova with his partner, Diane Kruger. Norman and Helena Christensen were a couple from 1998 to 2003. Helena once opened up about her special bond with Mingus in a 2021 interview with L’Officiel. “My son means many things to me,” she shared. “You teach your kids a lot as they grow, but then that changes. Suddenly, you’re listening to them and seeing yourself through their eyes. That’s a truly amazing experience.”
If you or someone you know is going through a tough time or a crisis, help is available. You can call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.