Brian McKnight Breaks Silence On ‘Abandonment’ Claim Circulating Online

Brian McKnight is speaking out for the first time over the viral conversations about the singer’s personal life on social media. Last week, RadarOnline reported that the Grammy-winning singer settled a 2020 lawsuit with his daughter Briana. She claimed that the singer “maliciously defamed” her on social media by saying she was in an incestuous relationship and labeling her “promiscuous.” In a since-deleted post, he wrote, “She had some years earlier, and while a minor, engaged in sexual relations with an older cousin.”

McKnight spoke about the allegation via Instagram: “Not sure how these posts that have been sitting here this whole time were left out of the false narrative that is trending. Abandonment? There’s always more to every story. Stay tuned,” the caption read.

Briana has been vocal about her estranged relationship with her father on social media. “‘Daddy’s little girl’ was never really a thing for me. Nobody understands what I’ve been through except for my siblings,” she wrote in the caption of a post in 2019. “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.”

She continued, “I grew up thinking that the things that happened to me and my dad’s relationship was my fault […] At a very young age, I was always second place in my father’s heart. I don’t usually write things like this but I feel like enough is enough.”

McKnight shaded Briana on social media once before in an Instagram post praising his stepdaughter Julia. In the post, he seemingly disregarded Briana’s existence. “Jules I became a girl dad because of YOU and I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter […] Here’s to you Jules the perfect daughter I always wanted,” he wrote.

McKnight’s son Brian Jr. spoke out about his estranged relationship with the “Back At One” singer. McKnight has another son with his current wife Leilani who he also named Brian. “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, firstborn son, who also bares our name,” he wrote on Facebook in 2019, per Vibe. “It’s insane to me. To have absolutely no empathy for the type of life be [sic] 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.”

McKnight claimed he

"I never even liked anyone before I met her." -Brian McKnight https://t.co/PM5NumGATc pic.twitter.com/zBDtWEETrm

— GirlTyler (@sheistyler) May 3, 2023?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“never liked anyone” before meeting his current wife Leilani. McKnight and Leilani share Brian Kainoa Makoa. Julia and Jack are Leilani’s children from a previous relationship.

The Best Hip-Hop and R&B Songs Of April 2023, Ranked

• 10. "Da Girls" (Remix) - Ciara ft. Lola Brooke and Lady London

  Ciara enlisted Lola Brooke and Lady London for the remix of “Da Girls.” This was the first time all three artists linked up on a record. “Lola and Lady London are special,” Ciara said about the two rising emcees per RatedRNB. “They each bring a unique star quality to everything they do. From the tone of their voices to the fire verses, they spoke life into this record for all da girls around the world.”

• 9. "Give It To Me" - Miguel

  Miguel is back with a new single titled “Give It To Me.” The R&B artist has not released a full-length project since 2017’s War & Leisure. His last project was his 2021 EP Art Dealer Chic Vol. 4. However, his 2010 single “Sure Thing,” went viral on TikTok this year and currently sits at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• 8. "Chemical" - Post Malone

  Post Malone dropped his first song of 2023 with “Chemical.” The New York native just finished touring last year in support of his 2022 LP Twelve Carat Toothache. “Chemical” is different from the artist’s usual sound as it has upbeat pop-rock elements introduced. The new record will act as the lead single to the rapper’s upcoming fifth studio album.

• 7. "Alone" - Kim Petras ft. Nicki Minaj

  Nicki Minaj joined Kim Petras for “Alone” marking their first collaboration together. For Nicki, this follows her feature on Ice Spice’s “Princess Diana.” “Alone” is Petras’ second single of 2023 following her record “brrr” which was released in January.

• 6. "Double Fantasy" - The Weeknd ft. Future

  For The Weeknd’s upcoming HBO drama The Idol, he and Future linked up to create “Double Fantasy.” The Weeknd performed it for the first time during Metro Boomin’s Coachella set. “Double Fantasy” marks The Weeknd and Future’s fifth collaboration after the two first came together as featured artists on producer Mike WiLL Made-It‘s 2015 single “Drinks on Us,” which also featured Swae Lee.

• 5. "Kill Bill" Remix - SZA ft. Doja Cat

  Doja Cat hopped on SZA’s SOS hit “Kill Bill” making it her first 2023 appearance. The two previously collaborated on the Grammy-winning “Kiss Me More.” SZA earned her first No. 1 Billboard hit with the original “Kill Bill” this month.

• 4. "Empire State Of Mind" Remix - Jay-Z

  Jay-Z remixed his 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind.” The hip-hop icon performed the remixed version in Paris at the Louis Vuitton Foundation to mark the opening of the “Basquiat x Warhol. Painting Four Hands” exhibition. The new version has been officially released which features Gil Scott-Heron’s iconic I’m New Here song “New York Is Killing Me.” The original “Empire State Of Mind” features Alicia Keys. The song was nominated for three awards but won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song at the 53rd Grammy Awards ceremony. The song was originally on Jay’s The Blueprint 3.

• 3. "Put It On Da Floor" - Latto

  Latto dropped “Put It On Da Floor” in April which fueled a beef between her and Coi Leray. The two later made amends but it ended working in the Atlanta native’s favor as she scored her first No. 1 on the Hot Trending Songs chart.

• 2. "Search & Rescue" - Drake

  Drake dropped his first solo song of 2023 titled “Search & Rescue.” He infamously sampled Kim Kardashian on the record from her Hulu reality show The Kardashians. “Search & Rescue” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• 1. "Princess Diana" Remix - Ice Spice ft. Nicki Minaj

  The People’s Princess and the Queen linked up for a remix of the Bronx native’s “Princess Diana.” The “Princess Diana” remix debuted at No.1 on this week’s Digital Song Sales chart making it Ice Spice’s first and Nicki’s 14th No.1 hit. The song debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.