Benjamin Keough 'struggled' living in Elvis Presley's shadow

A good friend of Lisa Marie Presley's son and Elvis Presley's grandson Benjamin Keough has revealed that he "absolutely" struggled with the pressure to carry on the family legacy.

Benjamin took his own life at his Calabasas home on Monday.

Musician Brandon Howard told People Magazine, that the 27-year-old's struggles with coming from such a famous family contributed to his death earlier this week.

"That kind of pressure is definitely a part of what happened," Brandon said.

He added, "It’s a tough thing when you have a lot of pressure with your family and living up to a name and an image. It’s a lot of pressure. It’s almost like you’re pressured into having to be a musician, having to be an actor.

"It was good for him to go around the world and discover himself and have his own friends. You never know what triggers it. You never know... It’s so random."

Brandon added that Benjamin struggled with depression, "Sometimes he struggled with depression, which is a serious thing with [the current pandemic] and everything happening right now and everybody being locked in the house. It takes a lot. I wish I could have been there."

He went on to say that Benjamin was a devoted friend and was always there to help if someone was going through a tough time.

"He has always been there for everybody," Brandon said. "In any kind of situation, he would be the one who would come crash with you on the couch for weeks until you're actually feeling better."

Brandon and Benjamin met as children after Lisa Marie married Michael Jackson in 1994. Michael's father Joe managed Brandon's mother singer Miki Howard.

Despite Lisa Marie and Michael's divorce two years later, the two boys remained close, calling themselves and friend Corey Feldman "the lost boys".

"As adults, we had a brotherhood and a kind of respect," Brandon said. "We always felt we are who we are and we just got to be the best we can for different people around us."

"He would be the one I talked to when a lot of stuff was going around about me and questions about who I am and where I come from," he added.

"He was like, 'Who does that serve? Does that serve you or does that serve everyone else's purpose? You are who you are, I am who I am. So it's up to us. We don't have anything to prove. We just live our lives. Those who know it, they know.'"

Brandon described his friend as a "wonderful" human, "He was super inspiring... He was cool and very intelligent, intelligent beyond his years. He was multi-faceted. He could be anywhere from serious, giving advice, to like super crazy and wild and dancing and partying. He was a very loving person as a brother."

He continued, saying he'd miss Benjamin's "laugh and his eyes" the most.

"I want people to know about his humility. He wasn't a spoiled kid. He was very humble, very giving, very loving, especially to his friends. It's just wild. There's nothing like this."

Lisa Marie’s manager, Roger Widynowsk, told TMZ that the star is devastated over the loss of her son.

"She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11 year old twins and her oldest daughter Riley. She adored that boy. He was the love of her life."

The son of Danny Keough, Benjamin followed in his famous family’s footsteps and was also a musician. He also acted in a short film called Rod and Barry.

Benjamin kept quite a low profile, but was known to look almost identical to his famous grandfather.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

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