After the devastating information that certainly one of singer Brian McKnight Sr.’s sons died of most cancers, many have been shocked to search out out the “Nonetheless in Love” singer by no means made any efforts to contact him whereas he was alive. With years of ongoing drama coming to a breaking level now, we’re unpacking the unusual and virtually unbelievable timeline surrounding McKnight and the youngsters he refuses to assert.
McKnight married his first spouse, singer Julie McKnight, in 1990. The couple lasted for over a decade, and collectively that they had two sons. Like several loving father, McKnight named his eldest boy Brian McKnight Jr. Following in his father’s footsteps, Brian Jr. has since launched his personal music.
The ex-couple’s second son, Nikolas, labored as a photographer in California. His mom confirmed he sadly handed away after a two 12 months battle with most cancers. Through the years, Niko and his father have gone forwards and backwards on social media, but it surely wasn’t at all times dangerous blood between the household. Right here’s the place all the things went incorrect…
After Julie and McKnight acquired a divorce in 2003, he was nonetheless an lively a part of his sons’ lives. Niko even carried out along with his dad on FOX’s “The Morning Present with Mike and Juliet” in 2008. McKnight finally married his second spouse, Leilani Malia Mendoza in 2017. Only a couple years later, the household dynamics started shifting drastically.
In 2019, McKnight hinted at tensions between him and his children. “I’ve by no means missed a day of kid help,” he mentioned in a video. “I’ve by no means carried out something adversarial to my youngsters by any means. I’ve at all times been there. I’ve at all times been there with recommendation, whether or not they took it or not.”
Brian Jr clapped again on Fb saying, “I don’t assume there may be any scenario that deserves the best way my father has chosen to deal with my brother, my sisters, and his grandchildren, certainly one of which being his first born’s, first born son, who additionally bares our title.”
McKnight eldest daughter, Briana, additionally spoke out throughout this time saying though her father’s estrangement hurts her, she’s grateful that her brothers stuffed within the gaps. Her mom, Patricia Driver, gave start whereas McKnight was nonetheless married to his first spouse.
In 2023, McKnight and his spouse, Leilani, gave start to their first little one collectively, a son named… watch for it… Brian McKnight Jr., to not be confused along with his oldest son with the identical title. In response to the double junior debacle, Brian Jr. (the primary one) mentioned “I’m not ashamed of the title my ancestors had. I’ll by no means change the title my very own son now has. We’re witnessing an obscene degree of self hate, that has reached psychological sickness standing at this level.”
McKnight then got here out in 2024 calling his eldest youngsters a “product of sin,” which as you possibly can anticipate reignited flames between the estranged household. Julie referred to as out her ex-husband saying, “The purpose on the finish of each destructive scenario… it’s to solely preserve you right down to the place they thought that they had you as a result of they have been the creator of a particularly abusive scenario emotionally, mentally,” on Instagram.
Niko did tackle his father’s “product of sin” touch upon X, amid his private battle with most cancers. He died one 12 months later at age 32. McKnight now refers to his stepchildren and his toddler son as his solely children.
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