Brian McKnight Jr. accuses father Brian McKnight of refusing to say 'I love you' to dying son Niko

The troubled relationship between Brian McKnight and his family took a heartbreaking turn when his son, Brian McKnight Jr., disclosed how the R&B icon treated his younger son, Niko, during his final battle with cancer.

In a recent Conversations with Marc Lamont Hill interview posted on December 3, Brian Jr. described one of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of his life. He recounted a call from Niko, who was sobbing, looking death in the eye, acknowledging that Brian Jr.s advice not to contact their father had been correct.

All my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him, Brian Jr. shared. According to him, McKnight responded coldly, saying, I cant arbitrarily say that I love you.

Niko, whose full name was Cole Nikolas McKnight, revealed his cancer diagnosis in January 2024 and passed away in May 2025 at the age of 32.

This revelation is the latest episode in the ongoing turmoil surrounding the McKnight family. The 56-year-old singer, famous for hits like Back at One and Anytime, faced public scrutiny in 2023 when he legally named a newborn son, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., after himself, despite already having a son named Brian Jr.

Family controversies persisted in 2024, when McKnight referred to his biological children as the product of sin and told fans during an Instagram Q&A, 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].

Brian McKnight Sr. is the father of eight children, including Brian Jr. and Niko with ex-wife Julie McKnight; daughter Briana with ex Patricia Driver; and son Clyde with another partner. With his wife Leilani Mendoza, whom he married in 2017, he had a son, Kekoa Matteo, who died in infancy, and later their son, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., born in January 2023. The couple is also raising Mendozas two children from a previous relationship.

Author: Ava Mitchell