Brian McKnight broke his silence on his estranged son Niko’s demise with a scathing message about his members of the family.
After Niko died from most cancers at age 32 final week, Brian, 55, launched a press release on Instagram Tuesday the place he bashed his brother, Claude, and his ex-wife and Niko’s mother, Julie, who each shared the information of Niko’s passing on social media.
“A big big thanks to Claude Mcknight’s tasteless and self aggrandizing announcement on TikTok, that frankly was not his to make, in my opinion, he inserted himself and used Niko’s death as an opportunity, instead of letting him pass with respect and dignity,” mentioned Brian.
“It has instead turned into a circus, a mockery of a life now lost, making this tragedy into a reality show type drama,” he added.
The “Back at One” singer mentioned that after Niko died, he and his household flew to Maui “and had a private memorial remembering him, and all the good times.”
“The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide, we had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home,” Brian claimed of his son, including, “He and his mother declined. The door of communication was open and remained open until his death.”
Brian then went after Julie, writing, “To the self proclaimed ‘mama bear’ may God have mercy on your soul for not allowing him to accept that help and not allowing him to use that line of communication.”
“There is great comfort in knowing God knows the TRUTH and the totality of the WHOLE story,” Brian mentioned. “I am truly thankful for the immense peace God has given me. I’ve left everything in HIS hands. I, have a clear conscience. The only judgement that matters is God’s.”
The music star added, “My wife, our children and I are eternally thankful to Almighty God that the suffering has come to an end and grateful for all of your condolences. Thanks to those of you have known The truth from the beginning and haven’t let untruths, half truths or slander, prejudice your opinion.”
On Might 30, each Claude and Julie introduced in separate social media posts that Niko died after a two-year battle with most cancers.
Claude additionally addressed the “family drama” in his TikTok video, telling followers, “I don’t know exactly what was going on there. I know what I’ve seen. I know what I’ve heard from all parties involved and I try not to judge.”
“I just try to be as loving to each person as I can be because apparently there’s so much hurt going on — or was so much hurt going on that a lot of things didn’t get resolved,” Claude added.
A supply not too long ago instructed Web page Six that Brian “did not contact or see Niko” earlier than the 32-year-old died.
The insider added that Niko “was surrounded by an abundance of love and support from those who truly mattered,” together with his mom, his older brother, Brian McKnight Jr., his spouse, Carla, and different prolonged members of the family.
Brian has seven youngsters, together with one organic youngster and two stepkids along with his spouse, Leilani Mendoza. He’s been estranged from his 4 eldest youngsters — together with Niko — and even known as them a “product of sin” in April 2024.
“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 mentioned final 12 months in an Instagram video.
Niko slammed his father’s feedback on the time, and mentioned on behalf of his siblings, “They don’t deserve this outright disrespect. Hate us all day. You don’t get to be a piece of s–t forever and still skate by with all that we know.”
Niko revealed his most cancers analysis in January 2024.
“Your boy got the big C,” he wrote on Instagram on the time. “it’s beeen one hell of a ride so far but things are looking better now than they were before so cheers to that.”
Niko added: “Let’s keep this momentum going and keep one prayer in the chamber for me yall. sh-ts gonna get better, i know it.”
