Nationwide — Niko McKnight, the son of R&B singer Brian McKnight and his ex-wife Julie, has died on the age of 33 following a two-year battle with most cancers. The information was confirmed on Friday, Might 30, by Brian’s brother, Claude, who shared an emotional video tribute on TikTok. Whereas acknowledging the household’s well-known estrangement, Claude requested the general public to strategy Niko’s dying with love slightly than judgment.
People experiences a heartfelt three-minute video filmed from his automotive, Claude described his nephew as a gifted and vibrant particular person who was “quirky, curious, and ridiculously gifted.” Niko was not solely a talented guitarist and singer but additionally had an eye fixed for images. Claude defined that whereas he doesn’t often submit about private tragedies, he felt compelled to honor Niko’s legacy and spirit.
Niko had spoken publicly about his most cancers analysis in January 2024, sharing his expertise and restoration journey on Instagram. He credited his spouse, Phoenix, for serving to to avoid wasting his life and maintained optimism all through his therapy. Regardless of the bodily and emotional toll, Niko remained hopeful, writing, “S—s gonna get higher, I do know it.”
Claude didn’t go into element concerning the longstanding rift between Brian McKnight and his older kids however acknowledged the ache inside the household. “There’s a lot damage happening… quite a lot of issues didn’t get resolved,” he mentioned, including that he carries his personal regrets concerning the scenario. He concluded the video with a tearful goodbye: “He’s out of ache now… I really like you, Niko.”
Niko and his older brother Brian Jr. as soon as carried out alongside their father within the short-lived household music group MCKNIGHT. Nonetheless, by 2019, Brian McKnight publicly addressed his estrangement from his kids, saying, “I’m not abandoning them. We’re estranged.” The rift deepened in recent times, with Brian controversially referring to his older kids as a “product of sin” in a 2023 Instagram video.
Regardless of the strain, Niko remained energetic and constructive on social media, sharing updates about his well being and inspiring followers to not deal with him in another way. In a December 2024 submit, he mentioned he was “lastly sleeping a full evening once more” and starting to really feel hopeful after an extended and painful restoration. “It’s trying fairly good to date,” he wrote.
