Brian McKnight Jr. Speaks On Father's Refusal To Tell Dying Brother ‘I Love You’

Brian McKnight Jr. Photo: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

After Brian McKnight Sr.'s recent interview where he talked about his estranged kids, and former wife, his son oldest son is speaking out. Both Brian McKnight Jr., and his mother Julie McKnight spoke with journalist Marc Lamont Hill and sat down for their own interview.

The interview touch on a pattern of public estrangement with the family and the R&B singer, while also talking about McKnight Sr.'s refusal to tell his dying son, he loves him. In the interview, McKnight Jr. called the exchange “one of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of my life.” Brian Jr., also noted his late brother Niko, who died in May after a two-year battle with cancer, pleaded for his father’s love.

“All my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him,” McKnight Jr. said. He claims Brian Sr. responded to Niko, “I can’t arbitrarily say that I love you.” 

Complex notes that McKnight has been estranged from his first four children for many years, and that earlier this year, he received backlash after calling his biological children “products of sin” in an Instagram post. In October 2023, McKnight legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. which matches his youngest son Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr.’s name, with wife Leilani Malia Mendoza.

The interview also came about after a public beef between McKnight Sr.and Hill.