UPDATE: Brian McKnight has denied that he's been a bad father and suggested that some of his children's ill feelings may stem from jealousy and him not taking care of some of them financially any longer. He said that he's never missed a child support payment and has always been there for his kids. Check out his response below.
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He's responsible for some of our favorite R&B love ballads from the 1990s, and undeniably there are quite a few people who were conceived to his songs. Brian McKnight is the poster child for romance as his hits have become tunes that couples have used for their weddings and intimate moments, but the singer's children have publicly shared that his wholesome image isn't their truth.
In 1990, McKnight married his college sweetheart, Julie McKnight. The couple went on to have three children together before divorcing in 2003. In 2017 he married Dr. Leilani Malia Mendoza after being coupled up for three years. For the most part, there haven't been any public scandals involving McKnight's family as they've kept a low profile, however, yesterday McKnight's son and daughter, Brian McKnight Jr.—or BJ—and Briana McKnight, vocalized their abandonment issues on Instagram regarding the absence of their father.
BJ wrote that his father has neglected his children and grandchildren:
I can’t imagine abandoning my children man. Its hard not to imagine the psyche of a man who can truly just turn his back on his actual sons, on his actual blood,and creations. It’s mind boggling to me. I don’t think there is any situation that merits the way my father has chosen to treat my brother, my sisters, and his grandchildren, one of which being his first born’s, first born son, who also bares our name. It’s insane to me. To have absolutely no empathy for the type of life be introduced us to, only to become to resent us for that life catching up with us. It breaks my heart, but not for myself, specifically for my siblings, and my children. They don’t deserve this at all, not open bit. And I’m not letting shit slide, not for one second. I’ve tried my best to take the high road, and be the bigger man, and all that positive shit, but there is a much bigger issue here, when it comes to black fathers, especially in entertainment that needs to be addressed. I believe there is a serious discussion that needs to be had, and A part of me truly feels like our story is the one to begin the conversation that will lead to healing a lot of young men, and woman with abandonment issues. It’s time to tell our side of the story.
Briana echoed her brother's sadness by sharing that felt as if she was "second place in my father's heart":
'Daddy’s little girl' was never really a thing for me. Nobody understands what I’ve been through except for my siblings. Believe it or not, I’m not always the person I seem to be. I’m not always happy and most of the time I’m battling my own demons just like everyone else. I grew up thinking that the things that happened to me and my dad's relationship was my fault. I grew up thinking that he doesn’t want to come to visit me because he doesn’t love me. Constantly put behind other kids that he would call his own while I’m cast into a land far far away in the back of his mind. It sucks knowing that someone else, who’s not even blood related to you comes before you in every single way. It sucks knowing that my phone calls have to go through a stranger I barely know, that my text messages are read without a response, and that my stepmother tells me that they 'wish the best for me'. It kills me to know that it’s so hard for me and my siblings to get a word in. Not one word. At a very young age, I was always second place in my father’s heart. Maybe even third, fourth, or fifth, depending on the situation. My father hasn’t called to wish me a 'happy birthday' in years and yet I sit by the phone every single year hoping that one day his heart will change. I’m so fortunate that I have two brothers who are father figures to me. Who celebrate me and love me every single day and that we make up the time that we lost. The anger and the sadness that I hold in my heart every day over this is sickening. It hurts knowing that my brothers went through this at my age (and are still going through it) and that my little sister is going through this at her young age. I don’t usually write things like this but I feel like enough is enough and like BJ, I want to share my side of the story. I hope that there’s someone out there that has gone or is going through the same thing. Some teenage girl who deals with this shit constantly who can relate to me and tell her side of the story and know that she’s not alone.
McKnight has not responded to either one of his children's allegations publicly, but hopefully, they can rectify their relationships.