It appears like there have been no efforts from Brian McKnight to fix the connection together with his son previous to his premature passing.
The 17-time Grammy nominee made no effort to succeed in out to his estranged son, Cole Nikolas (“Niko”) McKnight, earlier than his demise, in accordance with experiences from Web page Six. Following the 32-year-old’s passing from most cancers final week, a supply near the state of affairs instructed the outlet that the singer “has not reached out to the household.”
“He didn’t contact or see Niko,” the insider added earlier than insisting Niko “was surrounded by an abundance of affection and assist from those that really mattered,” together with his mom, Julie McKnight, his older brother, Brian McKnight Jr., his spouse, Carla, and different prolonged members of the family.
Julie McKnight took to Instagram on Friday, Could 30, to verify the information that Niko had handed away the day earlier than, which got here following a two-year battle with most cancers.
“Nikolas was a cherished husband, son, brother, grandson, uncle, and nephew whose heat, laughter, and love touched the lives of all who knew him,” she wrote beneath a photograph of herself with Niko and Brian Jr. “Nikolas was a self taught artist of music and images. His passing is an immeasurable loss to his household and all those that held him pricey.”
Brian Jr. has since paid tribute to his youthful brother on Instagram, calling him his “favourite every thing.”
“I’ll reside the remainder of my life in a relentless state of disbelief,” he started in his emotional caption. “My stunning child brother, I’ll love you till this airplane ceases to exist. There isn’t any me with out you, so dwelling simply feels out of whack. The stability is gone, and can by no means be the identical…I used to be the luckiest huge brother within the universe. It virtually appeared unfair at instances.”
Brian McKnight has had an estranged relationship together with his eldest 4 kids for years now. In October 2023, the singer introduced on Instagram that he legally modified his identify to change into a senior to his then-newborn son, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., whom he shares with spouse Leilani Mendoza. He had already been a senior to his eldest son, Brian Jr.
The subsequent 12 months, he proclaimed that he didn’t declare his estranged organic children as a result of they had been the “product of sin.”
“With a purpose to reside a life that you simply love, it’s a must to eliminate the evil and the negativity—even when that evil and negativity is said [to you],” he mentioned throughout a Q&A session on Instagram on the time.
Relaxation in peace, Niko.
