By now, most of us have heard about the disheartening statements R&B crooner, Brian McKnight, has made about his eldest biological children — Niko, Brian Jr., Briana, and presumably Clyde McKnight as well. Each of the aforementioned kids are Black, and Brian’s made it publicly known that he’s disowned them. So much so, that he’s also legally changed his name to match the name of the toddler son he shares with wife,  Leilani McKnight (who is of Filipino and Hawaiian decent), which was seemingly an intentional spiteful jab toward his eldest son, Brian McKnight Jr, whom the singer had previously shared his birth name with for the past few decades. And the list of dysfunctional daddy-deeds goes on and on from there, as we’ve unfortunately seen play out in public. Nevertheless…for “Never Felt This Way” singer’s recent birthday,  his wife referred to him as an “amazing father.” And that’s where this gets even more eyebrow-raising.

Wifey’s Birthday Tribute To Brian McKnight

On June 6, 2024, Brian turned 55. Typically, we would see his fans big up’ing him on his own social media pages, but ever since the mound of backlash he’s faced for publicly disowning his cancer-stricken Black son, Niko, as well as his other three eldest children, Brian has seemingly run away from social media altogether…but I digress.

Fortunately for Brian, wifey, Leilani, is keeping his presence felt on social media with her latest b-day post, where she praised him for always being there for ‘her’ children (but not for the biological ones he shares with his exes).

Leilani started by praising Brian for being an “amazing human being”:

“When I first met you, my prayer was that God would let me know you. Not the celebrity, not the singer but the inner person of your heart.

HE answered that prayer. He revealed to me the man you truly are. HE allowed me to see you through HiS eyes. To love the man that HE sees you as.

I wish I could give you the ability to see what I see. Only then would you truly know what an amazing human being you are.”

She then referred to him as an “amazing father”:

“You are an exemplary and passionately devoted husband. ❤️ I am humbled by how much God has blessed me by giving me you 🙏You are a loving and amazing father. Your protection , presence and love for me and our children knows no bounds and no words could say or actions shown could come close to expresss (sic) how much we love you and how grateful we are for you.

Today on your birthday, and everyday we honor you my love. I’m forever in love with you ❤️

#iloveourlife #mrandmrsmcknightworldtour24 #knightandlei❤️”

Questions And Accountability?

After reading Leilani’s birthday post, you’re probably thinking, ‘How could she praise Brian’s parenting of ‘their’ son and ‘her’ kids, but never acknowledged how he’s publicly bashed his other biological children?’

We don’t have the answer to that, but one can only imagine that the timing of Leilani’s fatherhood-praising of Brian; along with his actions toward his eldest kids, continue to emotionally cut his estranged kids very deeply.

Not only has Brian McKnight publicly referred to his four estranged kids as ‘products of sin’ and more in recent years; he publicly claimed Leilani’s children as his ‘only’ kids.

The McKnight Kids Nor Step-kids Publicly Showed Brian McKnight B-Day Love

By the way, none of Brian’s biological children publicly acknowledged their dad for his 55th birthday, and understandably so. On the flip side of this, Leilani’s daughter, Jules — one of the stepchildren Brian refers to as one of ‘his only’ kids– refrained from showing him birthday love online as well. So, that’s a pretty telling sign that none of the kids within Brian’s inner-circle seemingly wish to be publicly attached to the mayhem he’s caused for himself and his legacy at this time.

Welp…at least the “Back At One” crooner still has his wife, Leilani, to keep him company in these social media streets.

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile, we’re wishing Brian’s estranged son, Niko McKnight, a speedy rode to recovery and remission, as he continues to fight his fight against cancer.

 

 

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A post shared by niko mcknight (@fiftyclicks)

And to the rest of Brian’s estranged children, best wishes to each of you as you navigate through this thing called life. The road ain’t always pretty, but we can always learn to make lemonade outta lemons along the way.

Moral of the story is: Two things can exist at once. Brian McKnight is an incredibly gifted artist, who creates beautiful music; and he’s seemingly also an incredibly insensitive, detached father to his eldest biological children. Hopefully, in due time, he will find a way to mend the broken fences with them.