(L) Brian McKnight; (R) Throwback photo of Brian with his then-wife, Julie McKnight and two of his four biological children, Niko McKnight and Brian McKnight Jr.
Brian McKnight has managed to become enemy #1 in the eyes of many of his used-to-be-fans who once loved him. Why? Because he is online throwing all sorts of hurtful shade at his own flesh and blood- his four biological children (including his cancer-stricken son), while simultaneously embracing his step-kids ‘as his own.’ In a recent Instagram video, McKnight addressed a comment about his “other” kids, and let’s just say his response was extra salty…in a nice-nasty sort of way.
It all started when an Instagram user commented on a post showcasing a home that McKnight built for his current wife, Leilani — who is reportedly of Filipino and Hawaiian descent– and their blended family. The user mentioned Brian’s “other kids,” referring to his four biological children– Niko, Brian Jr, Briana, and Clyde McKnight. The comment struck a nerve, and McKnight wasted no time in firing back.
Brian McKnight’s “Evil” Comments About His Kids
In response, Brian re-shared a comment from a person who apparently tried to defend Brian’s disowning his biological children, which read, “For all of those asking ‘what about his other children’ some families are pure evil.” And Brian also had a response of his own. Check it out below:
“In order to live a life you love, you have to get rid of the evil and the negativity, even if that evil and negativity is related,” McKnight said in the video. “We want everyone to live a life that you love. Our hashtag that’s what it means, #ILoveOurLife, but in order to do that you have to get rid of all that evil and negativity. There’s so many angry and upset and negative people out there. We want to use our platform as a place of positivity. A positivity platform.”
(Brian McKnight with his current family- wife, Leilani and step-kids; (R) Throwback photo of Brian with his two biological sons, Brian Jr. and Niko
McKnight’s response left many social media users speculating about his relationship with his adult children. Many slammed him for seemingly referring to his own children as a source of “evil” and “negativity.” But Brian’s negativity toward his biological children didn’t stop there. In online comments, he replied to another person and labeled his biological kids as a “product of sin”:
“1. God wasn’t talking about children that are the product of sin which these are. 2. I didn’t raise them their mothers did. 3. Know the whole story before quoting the Bible. 4. Take your inaccurate negativity off of my page and try being happy.” – Brian McKnight
And there’s more…in a separate recent video response, McKnight reportedly denied having more than one daughter, acknowledging only his wife’s daughter, Julia, as his “one and only daughter.” This caused further speculation about his relationship with his other biological child, Briana McKnight. However, Brian made it clear that he only posts about the children he has relationships with and is proud of.
People Obliterated Brain McKnight’s “Evil” Comments About His Kids
(L) Throwback photo of Brian McKnight with three of his biological children– Niko, Briana, and Brian Jr.; (R) Brian with his current family– wife, Leilani and her children.
As y’all can imagine, people waisted zero time goin’ the all the way OFF on Brian McKnight for disowning his biological children and further bashing them in public…
“Wait til karma spin the block on yo a$$! Them same kids you might need one day to wipe your ass! BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SPEAK ON!” wrote one commenter.
One commenter wrote, “OMG! Brian you already told the world that you want nothing to do with your black children. Please stop reopening their wounds and let them heal from your treatment of abandonment. Just be ready for karma to spin the block when its time.”
Another comment read, “He literally has a son battling cancer right now and this is the content he decides to make.”
“You are cancelled sir. Sad excuse of a father!!!”, commented another.
“I WILL NEVER GO to a @brianmcknight23 CONCERT or LISTEN to ANY of his MUSIC from this DAY FORWARD! He just got RKelly’d!”, vowed a now-former fan of Brian’s.
“He’s intentionally trying to hurt them, it’s alarming and sad,” one commenter noted.
Another stated, “Wonderful example of toxic positivity. Well done.”
After Brian’s insensitive statements about his biological kids went viral, his ex-wife of 13 years, Julie McKnight (the mother of two of his biological children – Niko and Brian Jr.), clapped back at him with poise and grace in her video post, as well as in the comment section of The Shaderoom:
“The point of every negative situation, whether it’s an illness whether it’s a fool that you have to deal with because they keep entering your life when you are no longer giving anymore energy to it, is to only keep you down to where they thought they had you because they were the author of an extremely abusive situation emotionally, mentally. And they’re no good at not being the center of attention anymore. So when everybody pulls that away, it’s like a kid without candy who throws a tantrum…” – Julie McKnight
Meanwhile…Brian McKnight’s Son Is Fighting Through Cancer Journey
Meanwhile, Brian’s and Julie’s son, Niko McKnight, is currently fighting for his life as he battles cancer. He completed his 9th round of chemotherapy as of March 2024, and has been chronicling his cancer journey on his Instagram page.What we sincerely want Niko to know, is that even if his father is choosing not to be there for him during this difficult time, he has millions of people rooting for him online. We wish him a full recovery.
As far as Brian McKnight’s relationship with his biological children – Niko, Brian Jr., Briana, and Clyde McKnight- we can only hope the brotha eventually finds it within his heart to work diligently at mending that shattered fence.
