Brian McKnight Faces Backlash for ‘Victory’ Post on Late …
Brian McKnight is once again in the spotlight, this time after celebrating what he claims is a major courtroom victory against his ex-wife, Julie McKnight—on the same day as their late son Niko’s birthday.
According to TMZ, on Thursday, October 16, the R&B singer shared a joint Instagram reel with his wife, Leilani McKnight, announcing that he had secured an $8.8 million judgment in his defamation lawsuit against Julie.
The video featured McKnight smoking a cigar and declaring, “It’s been a long journey getting to this day, October 16, 2025… but the verdict is in.”
McKnight told his followers that “according to the courts, trying to ruin my name and trying to bring harm to my family with a book filled with lies equals $8.8 million.” He added that “anyone who helped promote these lies” could also expect to hear from his legal team.
The singer then played what appeared to be a voicemail from Julie, warning him not to contact their son Niko, who passed away earlier this year at 32 after a two-year battle with cancer.
The lawsuit centers around Julie’s February release, Mama Bear: Beautifully Blended, which Brian claims defamed him by portraying him as an abusive husband and neglectful father. The book, described on Amazon as “a tool to give guidance to those who are navigating the twists and turns within a blended family,” became the subject of McKnight’s legal action earlier this year.
While McKnight was celebrating online, Julie was posting a very different kind of message. Hours before his video went live, she shared a tribute to Niko on Instagram to mark what would have been his 32nd birthday.
“Celebrating the day you were born. I love you and I miss you even more. #F32,” she wrote, later adding that it was painful to spend another birthday without him. On October 17, she followed up with a thank-you message to those who honored her son’s memory.
The timing of McKnight’s celebration struck a nerve with fans and critics alike. Social media comments quickly flooded in, questioning why he would choose to announce the alleged judgment on such a sensitive day. One user wrote, “Posting this ‘victory’ video on your deceased son’s birthday… diabolical smh.” Another added, “That voicemail was a mother protecting her ill son… this ain’t the flex Brian thinks it is.”
Others echoed the sentiment, with comments like, “It’s like he takes joy in his first family’s suffering,” and “This isn’t the flex you think it is, Brian.”
This latest controversy follows years of public tension between McKnight and his older children from his marriage to Julie.
In 2023, he faced backlash for openly praising his children with Leilani while distancing himself from his older kids. Later that year, he legally changed his name to align with his youngest son, also named Brian, instead of the eldest he shares with Julie. At one point, he went viral for referring to his estranged children as a “product of sin.”
For now, the court’s official judgment has not yet been independently verified.