Singer Brian McKnight has filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Julie McKnight, their son Brian McKnight Jr., podcaster Marc Lamont Hill, and more over allegations about his late son Niko McKnight, 32.
RELATED: Brian McKnight Reportedly Made Zero Effort To Reunite With Estranged Son Niko Before Succumbing To Cancer, Nor Has He ‘Reached Out To The Family’ Since
Brian McKnight Accused Of Abandoning 4 Eldest Children And Refusing To Help Son Niko McKnight Before Passing From Colon Cancer
As we previously shared, Niko sadly passed on May 29, 2025. He succumbed to his 2-year battle with colon cancer. Before, during, and after his passing, he and his family were embroiled in a heartbreaking back-and-forth.
Niko, Brian Jr., and Julie all had alleged that Brian Sr. had abandoned and disowned his four older children, only claiming his new family with wife Leilani Mendoza, including their son, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., who is technically the second Brian McKnight Jr.
RELATED: Brian McKnight Breaks Silence On Son Niko’s Cancer Death And Slams Niko’s Mother And His Own Brother Claude McKnight For ‘Tasteless’ TikTok Video
In June 2025, the eldest Brian Jr. and mother Julie took to social media, alleging Brian Sr. made zero effort to reunite with his estranged son before his transition. By December 2025, Brian Jr. and Julie again made allegations against Brian Sr. In an interview with Marc Lamont Hill, they claimed Niko’s dying wish was for his father to say, “I love you.” However, they alleged that Brian Sr. replied, “I can’t arbitrarily say, ‘I love you.’”
The mother and son duo also slammed the “Back At One” singer for claiming “they martyred” Niko in a “preventable” cancer death. Brian Sr. said he reached out to help Niko before he passed and that his mother allegedly denied the help.
Two months before Julie and Brian Jr.’s sit-down with Marc, in October 2025, Brian Sr. said he won $8.8 million after his ex failed to show up to court in his defamation case. Brian Jr. ended up slamming his father again online.
RELATED: Brian McKnight Jr. Claims Dying Brother Niko Requested Father Say ‘I Love You’ Before Colon Cancer Death, Brian McKnight Allegedly Replied, ‘I Can’t Arbitrarily Say I Love You;’ Julie McKnight Also Slams ‘Belittling’ Singer
Brian McKnight Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Ex-Wife Julie McKnight, Son Brian McKnight Jr., Podcasters Marc Lamont Hill & Tasha K, And The New York Post
Now, in April 2026, TMZ reports that Brian Sr. is again suing Julie, Brian Jr., plus Marc Lamont Hill, Tasha K, and the New York Post for platforming his family’s allegations about him and Niko. In court documents obtained by the publication, Brian Sr. accuses everyone of a “malicious character assassination.
He says he’s the victim of a “shockingly dishonest” and “sensational but false narrative” about allegedly abandoning his children and refusing to tell his dying son he loved him. The court docs say Julie and Brian told Marc that Brian Sr. “refused to communicate with his son during his final illness, refused to tell him that he loved him before his death, and emotionally abandoned him during his final days — accusations that portrayed Plaintiff as a father who withheld love and compassion from his dying child.”
Brian Sr. also accuses Tasha K of falsely calling him a cheater who slept with a minor. The singer claims his reputation, career, and new family are being negatively impacted by the alleged lies against him. He also says the “relentless and persistent assault upon his character” left him no choice but to take legal action, seeking unspecified damages. Brian Sr. is suing for defamation and false light invasion of privacy/disclosure, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more. He’s also suing Julie for alleged breach of contract.
RELATED: Brian McKnight Jr. And Julie McKnight Slam Brian McKnight For Claiming They ‘Martyred’ Niko In ‘Preventable’ Stage 4 Colon Cancer Death: ‘That Is Diabolical & Evil’
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