Brian McKnight Accused of Staying Silent as Estranged Son Niko Lost Battle With Cancer

Brian McKnight is catching heat again, this time for allegedly ignoring his son Cole “Niko” McKnight in his final days.

Sources close to the family claim that the R&B singer made no attempt to check in, call, or even acknowledge Niko before he passed away from cancer at age 32. A person close to the family told Page Six that McKnight didn’t reach out to Niko or his immediate family as his condition worsened.

“He did not contact or see Niko,” the insider said.

Despite the absence of his famous father, Niko’s final days were filled with love. He was cared for and surrounded by the people who mattered most: his mother, Julie McKnight, his brother Brian McKnight Jr., his wife Carla, and close family who stood by him throughout the fight.

“Surrounded by an abundance of love and support from those who truly mattered,” the source added.

McKnight has been publicly criticized in the past for distancing himself from his older children while embracing his new family. His ongoing estrangement has fueled years of backlash, especially after he claimed in interviews and social media posts that his stepchildren were the only ones he considered his “real” kids.

Now, with Niko’s passing, the silence speaks louder than words, and it’s not going unnoticed.