Brian McKnight says his estranged biological children are ‘products of sin’
Brian McKnight said he does not claim his estranged biological children because they are “the product of sin.”
During a recent Q&A on Instagram, the “Back At One” singer responded to a fan who defended his decision not to claim his four older biological children — Brian Jr., Nico, Brianna, and Clyde — because some relatives could be evil “pures.” “
“I want to make my guy bigger here. He gets it,” McKnight, 54, said in an Instagram video while referencing the fan’s comment.
“In order to live a life you love, you have to rid yourself of evil and negativity — even if that evil and negativity are connected [to you]”.
An estranged fan commented on the 17-time Grammy nominee’s post, writing that McKnight had “disowned” his children and gone “against God.”
The “Anytime” singer responded: “1. God wasn’t talking about children who are the product of sin 2. I didn’t raise them the way their mothers did 3. Know the whole story before quoting the Bible 4. Take your inaccurate negativity off my page and try to be happy.” .
McKnight has been at odds with his four older children for years.
Last October, he came under fire for changing his name to be older for his newborn son – even though it was already older for his eldest son, Brian Jr.
“So proud to introduce our son 🤍BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR. 🤍,” he captioned a snapshot of the baby’s face on Instagram at the time.
“Into the world with the release of my new album created with love for him. JR. Because I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to fully align with my legacy.
McKnight — who shares the newborn with his wife Leilani Mendoza — said his name is now Brian Kaynua Makua McKnight Sr.
Fans took to social media to call the R&B legend “evil” and “vile” for trying to separate himself from his four older children, with whom he shares previous relationships.
“Brian McKnight is so evil,” one critic tweeted. “He changed his last name to Makoa McKnight so he could name his newborn Brian Makoa McKnight Jr., when he already had a son named Brian McKnight Jr. I don’t know how much more evil a person could be.”
Another added: “I’ve never seen anyone proudly show how much they hate their kids like Brian McKnight.” “Changing his name to fit the new kid when he’s already got a son is next level cruel. He’s a garbage human being not only for doing it, but also for putting it on display to the world.
McKnight’s eldest son also reacted to his estranged father’s name change.
He replied: “I am not ashamed of the name my ancestors bore.” “I will never change the name my son now has. We are seeing an obscene level of self-loathing, bordering on mental illness at this point.”
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Although it is not known why McKnight decided to cut his older children out of his life, he first hinted at a feud in 2019 when he called them “entitled” in a video.
“I haven’t missed a single day of child support,” he told Essence at the time. “I’ve never done anything negative to my kids. I’ve always been there. I’ve always been there to give advice, whether they take it or not.”
“I was always their sounding board and I was always the one who had to help them achieve whatever dreams they wanted to reach.”
The “One Last Cry” musician and Mendoza married in December 2017.
She is also the mother of two other children, Julie and Jack, from a previous relationship. McKnight now refers to his stepchildren and infant son as his only children.