Brian McKnight Jr. Claims His Father Refused to Tell Estranged Son Niko He Loved Him Before Dying of Cancer

Brian McKnight Jr. claimed that his father, singer Brian McKnight, refused to tell his estranged son, Niko McKnight, that he loved him in his final days as he battled a cancer diagnosis.

McKnight Jr. sat down with Marc Lamont Hill earlier this week, where he recalled the heartbreaking conversation with Niko, who was distraught about his father’s lack of affection, before his passing in May.

“One of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of my life is the day my brother [Niko] calls me sobbing — with all he’s going through — looking death in the eye, to tell me I’m right about telling him not to call my father because I knew what was going to happen,” he said.

McKnight Jr. continued: “Because I knew where my dad was, I told [Niko], ‘Dad is gone.’ All my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him,” he added. “My father responds to my brother, ‘I can’t arbitrarily say that I love you.’ But this is the man that wanted to help him?”

In October 2023, the Grammy-nominated singer said he legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. to ensure he was the senior to his newborn with his wife Leilani Malia Mendoza.

Months later, in April 2024, he referred to his biological children as “products of sin.” “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],” he wrote on Instagram.

In his current Instagram bio, McKnight refuses to recognize Brian McKnight Jr. and his late son, Niko McKnight, who passed away in May following a two-year battle with cancer. “Father of Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo & Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr.,” the IG bio reads.

Niko McKnight revealed his cancer diagnosis publicly in January 2024. Niko’s uncle Claude announced that his nephew had passed away at 32 years old in a video posted to social media in May.

McKnight Jr. slammed his father in October for celebrating winning a lawsuit against his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, which happened to also be Niko’s birthday.

“I’ve tried, man. I’ve tried really, really hard. To not touch on s–t. To let it go, to be the bigger person, to be mature,” McKnight Jr. said in an Instagram Story post, per Complex. “But the shit going on with my dad right now, man. If y’all aren’t seeing what’s happening. If y’all aren’t seeing the fact that this is just a very hurt, and a very emotionally unavailable and not intelligent person that has still not been able to handle the death of his own mother…to decide to make certain posts on my late brother’s birthday?”

In an Instagram Q&A in April, McKnight explained he attempted to get his son, Niko, the best specialists and medical care in the country, but stopped trying to help once his ex-wife, Julie, got involved and allegedly told him to stop.

“Six months ago, we found out about this [Niko’s diagnosis],” he said. “We called him. We talked to him, we talked to his wife. She told us that she was all alone and handling everything all by herself and it became quickly evident to us that since they didn’t have insurance and they didn’t have access to the proper doctors, naturally, we jumped into action.”

The 56-year-old added: “So what are we doing? We’re adhering to her wishes because that’s what she wanted and we’re staying out of it.”

Watch the harrowing clip below: