Brian McKnight faced backlash after referring to his biological children as “evil” and “products of sin.”
The R&B singer, 54, addressed a fan who supported his decision to publicly disown his four oldest children, Brian Jr., Niko, Briana and Clyde, citing concerns about the presence of “pure evil” among some family members. during a recent Instagram Questions and Answers.
McKnight expressed his appreciation for the fan’s comment, saying, “I want to big up my man right here.” He understands it.’
He added: “To live the life you love, you have to get rid of evil and negativity, even if that evil and negativity are related.” [to you].’
After another fan claimed the singer was “going against God,” McKnight responded, “God wasn’t talking about children who are the product of sin, like these are.”
Brian McKnight faced backlash after referring to his biological children as “evil” and “products of sin.”
The R&B singer, 54, addressed a fan who supported his decision to publicly disown his four oldest children, citing concerns about the presence of “pure evil” among some family members; Brian, his ex-wife Julie McKnight, and his children Nikko McKnight and Brian McKnight, Jr. in 2000
Fans were quick to criticize the Grammy-nominated artist, with one posting: “This is VERY disgusting work.” My God, what the hell is blasphemous bad father hell?
Another chimed in: “Every time Brian McKnight starts trending I want to cry because I loved this man’s music.” But SMH I can’t stand it anymore.
‘Not everyone is born to married parents, but did I have to call these children ‘products of sin?’ Honestly, Apparently a product of sin.’
Last year, McKnight faced backlash for publicly disowning his children, Brian Kelly McKnight Jr. and Niko, whom he shares with ex-wife Julie McKnight.
He also separated from his 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 child together, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., was born in 2022.
Towards the end of last year, McKnight celebrated the achievement of her stepdaughter, Julia, earning her master’s degree, sparking renewed discussions about her relationship with her biological children through an Instagram post.
McKnight said, “To live the life you love, you have to get rid of evil and negativity, even if that evil and negativity are related.” [to you]’
After another fan claimed the singer was “going against God,” McKnight responded, “God wasn’t talking about children who are the product of sin, like these are.”
In response, McKnight posted a Weekly Answers video on Instagram this week, where he referred to Julia as “my only daughter.”
The family feud hit a high note last October when McKnight was criticized for changing his name to become the eldest of his newborn son Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., even though he was already the eldest of his eldest son, Brian Jr.
The hitmaker made the announcement in an Instagram post that served as a promotion for the album, which may have upset some fans.
He included a sepia-toned photo of little Brian Jr. and shared the album’s title, McKnighttime Lullabies: An Album For My Son.
‘I am very proud to introduce you to our son… BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR. …to the world with the release of my new album created with love 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 heritage.’
“My legal name now is… BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA MCKNIGHT SR.,” he shared, before informing his fans that his album was now available.
“MCKNIGHTtime LULLABIES” the songs from a father to his namesake now available!
Harmful: The change comes even though McKnight already has a son named Brian McKnight Jr., his eldest son, 33, who has been publicly estranged from his father for years.
Reactions: Some fans called his move “petty” and “disgusting.” A measurement commentator reminds you that “Changing his name does not or cannot erase what he already is.”
Ouch: One blunt comment urged him to ‘create some balls and make up with his firstborns.’ Another person simply made it clear that he was no longer a fan.
Leave him alone: Others defended McKnight, and some even celebrated his ‘reboot’. Another commenter said, “Sometimes a man gets tired of fighting.”
It included several hashtags, including “iloveourlife,” “babybrian,” “mylegacy,” “junior” and “familyfirst.”
The announcement was met with condemnation from several commentators, prompting McKnight to make limited comments on the post.
‘Family first, huh?’ one disapproving person wrote, while others called it “petty” and “a disgusting move.”
A more measured commentator wished him congratulations, but made it clear that they thought he was wrong.
‘I pray for peace and healing for your family. Changing your name does not or cannot erase what already is,” they wrote.
One forceful comment urged him to “be brave and reconcile with his firstborn.”
Another person simply made it clear that he was no longer a fan.
But some people who responded to the post were completely on McKnight’s side and didn’t find his name change unusual or disturbing at all.
“I love watching you grow and become a better person,” one fan wrote. This whole series of you starting over is a great blessing. Congratulations on your new “reboot” life legacy.
Another suggested that it wasn’t worth the effort to keep relationships strong with their older children.
‘Sometimes a man gets tired of fighting. Men just want peace! Leave this man alone!’ they wrote defensively.
McKnight’s eldest son also weighed in via his Instagram Stories on Saturday in response to a fan who suggested he should change his own name to sever any connection to his father, according to Page six.
‘I am not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. “I will never change my own son’s current name,” wrote McKnight Jr. ‘We are witnessing an obscene level of self-hatred, which at this point has reached the status of mental illness.
“All we can do is pray for that man and for my new little brother, who we will all welcome with open arms one day, once he realizes who his real family is,” she continued.
‘Legacy is not in the name. It is in the character of the people. It will soon become clear who is on the right side of all this, because there is no escaping what is 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.
Not holding back: In a response posted to his Insta Stories, the original Brian Jr. wrote that his father’s actions were evidence of “an obscene level of self-loathing, which has reached the state of mental illness at this point.”
He also has a daughter, Briana, and a son, Clyde, from previous relationships, and became the stepfather to Jack, the son of his wife Leilani, and his daughter Julia.
However, the interpreter seemed to indicate that he no longer considers his older children part of his family.
His Instagram bio lists him as the father of ‘Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo and Brian Kainoa Makoa.’
Kekoa was the intended name for a child McKnight and Leilani lost in a miscarriage in 2022.