Brian McKnight’s son revealed that his father refused to say “I love you” to his estranged son as he was on his deathbed. Brian McKnight Jr., son of the R&B singer, opened up in an interview with Marc Lamont Hill, stating that “all my brother wanted, needed, asked for was my father to tell him he loves him.” “One of the darkest and coldest and most disheartening memories of my life,” McKnight Jr. reflects on his brother Niko McKnight’s reaction when their father said, “I can’t arbitrarily say that I love you,” while he was battling cancer. In January 2024, Niko announced on Instagram that he had been diagnosed with cancer. McKnight, a 17-time Grammy nominee, claimed that he tried to help his son during his battle with the disease, but his ex-wife, the mother of guitarist Julie McKnight, intervened. The estranged couple divorced in 2003 after 13 years of marriage. McKnight said that despite finding “a treatment facility,” his ex-wife made a “hostile” call telling him to stop helping their son. Niko died in May 2025. A close source told Page Six that the artist “did not reach out to the family,” and “did not contact or see Niko.”
One of the most painful moments in my interview with Brian McKnight Jr. and Julie McKnight was hearing them discuss the last moments between Brian Sr. and his now deceased son Niko. I pray that they all find the love, healing, understanding, and accountability that they need and… pic.twitter.com/crOmlHFvDg
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) December 3, 2025
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