Brian McKnight's estranged son Niko dead at 32 after years-long feud with R&B singer dad
Brian McKnight's estranged son Niko McKnight has died at the age of 32 after battling cancer for two years.
Niko's death was announced by his uncle - Claude (Brian's brother) - on Friday via TikTok.
Claude talked about finding out his nephew passed during the video, noting in the caption for fans to not discuss Niko's relationship with his dad Brian.
'He's been bravely battling cancer for the last two years or so and have a lot of feelings right now...' his uncle said in the TikTok video.
Dailymail.com has reached out to Brian's reps for comment.
In April 2024, Niko and Brian's ex-wife Julie McKnight fired back at Brian after he called his children 'evil' and a 'product of sin'.
'I'm evil. That's wild: The guy who used to make me clean his used condoms out his bathroom at 15 before Lisa got home is calling me evil Fashoooooo,' Niko posted on the Shaderoom, according to an article on Sunday by Page Six.
He added in a separate comment: 'The guy who forged [signatures] on our names is evil fashoooooooo.'
At the time, Niko had taken to X, formerly known as Twitter and admitted that he and siblings Brian Jr, Briana and Clyde were 'bad children', but insisted his sisters 'deserve better'.
'They don't deserve this outright disrespect. Hate us all day. You don't get to be a piece of s*** forever and still skate by with all that we know,' Niko posted.
'We saved that man from federal prison. That's all I'm going to say. But after all of this, I still love him so much because I know there's my dad in there somewhere. But he's a drone now. So f***ing sad. Miss you, Dad,' added Niko at the time.
He also acknowledged in another X post that he was 'spoiled beyond belief', but was working to 'correct' his shortcomings.
Julie, 52, also challenged Brian and said she was proud of their two sons.
'The point at the end 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 any more energy to it, it's to only keep you down to where they thought they had you because they were the author of an extremely abusive situation emotionally, mentally,' she posted on Instagram.
'And they're no good at not being the center of that attention anymore. So when everybody pulls that away, it's like a kid who throws a tantrum,' Julie added.
Brian McKnight, 54, faced public backlash online after referring to his biological children as 'evil' and 'products of sin' before Niko and Julie weighed in.
The R&B singer had addressed a fan who supported his choice to publicly disown his four eldest kids — Brian Jr., Niko, Briana, and Clyde — citing concerns about the presence of 'pure evil' among some relatives during a recent Instagram Q&A.
McKnight expressed his appreciation for the fan's comment, saying, 'I wanna big up my man right here. He gets it.'
He added: 'In order to live a life that you love, you have to get rid of the evil and the negativity — even if that evil and negativity is related [to you].'
After another fan claimed the singer was 'going against God,' McKnight replied, 'God wasn't talking about children that are the product of sin which these are.'
Fans were quick to slam the Grammy-nominated artist, with one posting, 'This is VERY nasty work. My goodness what in the blasphemous bad father hell?'
Another chimed in, 'Every time Brian McKnight starts trending I want to cry because I used to LOVE this man's music. But SMH I can't support it anymore.
'Not everyone is born of married parents, but did he have to call these children 'product of sin?' Sincerely, Apparently a product of sin.'
Last year, McKnight faced backlash for publicly disowning his sons, Brian Kelly McKnight Jr. and Niko, whom he shares with ex-wife Julie.
He also became estranged from daughter Briana and son Clyde from previous relationships.
When the singer married his current wife, Leilani McKnight, in 2017, he became stepfather to Julia and Jack McPhee.
Their first son together, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., was born in 2022.
Towards the end of last year, McKnight celebrated the achievement of his stepdaughter, Julia, who obtained her master's degree, sparking renewed discussions about his relationship with his biological children via an Instagram post.
McKnight said, 'In order to live a life that you love, you have to get rid of the evil and the negativity — even if that evil and negativity is related [to you]'
After another fan claimed the singer was 'going against God,' McKnight replied, 'God wasn't talking about children that are the product of sin which these are'
In response, McKnight posted a Weekly Replies video on Instagram this week, where he referred to Julia as 'my sole daughter.'
The family feud hit a high note last October when McKnight was slammed for changing his name to become a senior to his newborn son Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr. — although he was already a senior to his eldest son, Brian Jr.
The hitmaker made the announcement in an Instagram post that doubled as an album promo, which may have also rubbed some fans the wrong way.
He included a sepia-toned photo of little Brian Jr., and shared the album's punny title, McKnighttime Lullabies: An Album For My Son.
'So proud to introduce our son... BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR. ... to the world with the release of my new album lovingly created for him,' he wrote.
McKnight added that his son had the suffix 'JR. because I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to exactly match my legacy's.'
'My legal name is now... BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA MCKNIGHT SR.,' he shared, before informing his fans that his album was available now.
'MCKNIGHTtime LULLABIES' the songs of a father to his namesake available now!
Reactions: Some fans called his move 'petty' and 'disgusting.' One measure commenter reminding him that 'Changing your name doesn't or can't erase what already is'
Ouch: One blunt comment urged him to 'grow some balls and reconcile with your first-born children.' Another person simply made it clear that they were no longer a fan
He included several hashtags, including 'iloveourlife,' 'babybrian,' 'mylegacy,' 'junior' and 'familyfirst.'
The announcement was met with condemnation from several commenters, leading McKnight to eventually limited comments on the post.
'Family first huh?' wrote one disapproving person, while others called it 'petty' and 'a disgusting move.'
A more measured commenter wished him congratulations, but made it clear that they though he was in the wrong.
'I pray for the peace & healing of your family. Changing your name doesn't or can't erase what already is,' they wrote.
One blunt comment urged him to 'grow some balls and reconcile with your first-born children.'
Another person simply made it clear that they were no longer a fan.
But some people responding to the post were fully in McKnight's camp and didn't find his name change unusual or disturbing at all.
'I love watching you grow to be a better person,' wrote one fan. This whole series of you starting over is such a blessing. Congratulations on your new 'restart' legacy of life.'
Another suggested it wasn't worth the effort to keep his relations strong with his older children.
'Sometimes a man gets tired of fighting. Men just want peace! Leave this man alone!' they wrote defensively.
McKnight's older son also weighed in via his Instagram Stories on Saturday in response to a fan who suggested he should change his own name to cut off any connection to his father, according to Page Six.
'I'm not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. I'll never change the name my own son now has,' McKnight Jr. wrote. 'We are witnessing an obscene level of self hate, that has reached mental illness status at this point.
'All we can do is pray for that man, and my new little brother who we will all welcome with open arms one day, once he realizes who his real family is,' he continued.
'Legacy isn't in the name. It's in the character of the people. It will all be quite clear soon, just who's on the right side of all this, because there's no escaping what's coming.'
In addition to the original Brian Jr., McKnight shares a son Niko from his first marriage to Julie McKnight, which ended in divorce in 2003.
He also has a daughter Briana and son Clyde from previous relationships, and he became the stepfather to his wife Leilani's son Jack and daughter Julia.
However, the performer seemed to indicate that he doesn't consider his older children part of his family anymore.
His Instagram bio lists him as the father to 'Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo and Brian Kainoa Makoa.'
Kekoa was the intended name for a child that McKnight and Leilani lost to a miscarriage in 2022.
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