Brian McKnight angered his fans – and even his eldest son – this weekend when he announced a big change.
The 54-year-old R&B singer revealed on Instagram that he changed his name to create a stronger bond with his youngest son Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight.
In an Instagram post on Saturday announcing the change, McKnight said he changed his name to perfectly match his nine-month-old son’s name.
The singer – who welcomed his son in January this year with his younger wife Dr. Leilani Malia Mendoza – said he wanted his new son Brian McKnight Jr. would be called, so he had to change his name so he could in turn be Brian. McKnight Sr.
The only problem was that he already had Brian McKnight Sr. was for his eldest son Brian McKnight Jr., 33, and the famous son and furious fans shared their disapproval in the comments.
What’s in a name? Brian McKnight, 54, angered his fans and even his eldest son when he announced Saturday that he had changed his name in honor of his youngest son; seen in 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona
Conflict: McKnight revealed that he changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight so he could be Brian Sr. could be, while his nine-month-old son is now Brian Jr. could be.
The shocking name change follows years of estrangement between McKnight and his older children, culminating in his apparent attempt to distance himself from them and bond with his newest child from his current marriage.
The former hitmaker made the announcement in an Instagram post that doubled as an album promo, which may have also rubbed some fans the wrong way.
He included a sepia-toned photo of little Brian Jr. and shared the album’s funny title, McKnighttime Lullabies: An Album For My Son.
The LP was released on October 20.
“So proud to introduce our son… BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR. …to the world with the release of my new album, lovingly created for him,” he wrote.
McKnight added that his son used the suffix “JR.” as I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to exactly match that of my estate.”
“My legal name is now… BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA MCKNIGHT SR.,” he shared before informing fans that his album was now available.
“MCKNIGHTtime LULLABIES” the songs of a father of his namesake now available!
Painful: the change comes even though McKnight already has a son named Brian McKnight Jr. – his eldest son, 33, who has been publicly estranged from his father for years
Reactions: Some fans called his move “petty” and “disgusting.” One commenter reminds him that “changing your name doesn’t erase or do away with what already is.”
Ouch: One blunt comment urged him to “grow some balls and reconcile with your firstborn children.” Another person simply made it clear that he was no longer a fan
Leave him alone: Others defended McKnight, and some even celebrated his “reboot.” Another commenter said: ‘Sometimes a man gets tired of fighting’
He used several hashtags, including “iloveourlife,” “babybrian,” “mylegacy,” “junior” and “familyfirst.”
The announcement was condemned by several commentators, ultimately leading McKnight to receive limited responses to the post.
“Family first, huh?” wrote one disapproving person, while others called it “petty” and “a disgusting move.”
A more measured commentator wished him congratulations, but made it clear they thought he was wrong.
“I pray for the peace and healing of your family. Changing your name does not or cannot erase what is already there,” they wrote.
One blunt comment urged him to “grow some balls and reconcile with your firstborn children.”
Another person simply made it clear that he was no longer a fan.
But some people who commented on the post were completely in McKnight’s camp and didn’t find his name change unusual or disturbing at all.
Not holding back: Commenting on his Insta Stories, the original Brian Jr. wrote. that his father’s actions were evidence of “an obscene level of self-loathing, which at this point has reached the status of mental illness”
“I love watching you grow into a better person,” one fan wrote. This whole series of you starting over is such a blessing. Congratulations on your new ‘reboot’ legacy of life.”
Another suggested it wasn’t worth it to keep his relationship with his older children strong.
‘Sometimes a man gets tired of fighting. Men just want peace! Leave this man alone!’ they wrote defensively.
McKnight’s eldest son also joined in via his Instagram Stories on Saturday in response to a fan who suggested he should change his own name to sever any connection to his father, according to Page six.
‘I am not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. I will never change the name my own son now has,” McKnight Jr. wrote. “We are witnessing an obscene level of self-loathing that has reached the status of mental illness at this point.
“All we can do is pray for that man, and for my new baby brother, who we will all welcome with open arms one day, once he realizes who his real family is,” he continued.
‘Legacy is not in the name. It is in the character of the people. Soon it will all become very clear who is on the right side, because there is no escaping what is coming.”
In addition to the original Brian Jr. McKnight shares a son Niko from his first marriage to Julie McKnight, which ended in divorce in 2003.
New family? Brian calls himself the father of his new son, his two stepchildren and a child his wife miscarried, but he doesn’t mention his older, estranged children on his Instagram bio; seen in 2009 in Hollywood
He also has a daughter Briana and son Clyde from previous relationships, and he became the stepfather to his wife Leilani’s son Jack and daughter Julia.
However, the performer seemed to indicate that he no longer considers his older children part of his family.
His Instagram bio lists him as the father of “Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo and Brian Kainoa Makoa.”
Kekoa was the intended name for a child McKnight and Leilani lost to a miscarriage in 2022.
