BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 30: Brian McKnight Jr and Brian McKnight attend Pre-GRAMMY Gala & Salute to Industry Icons with Clive Davis at Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Brian McKnight is one proud papa when it comes to his infant son with his wife, Leilani. The singer recently debuted an album and its cover art in dedication to his youngest child.
But that’s not the only surprise McKnight revealed this past weekend via Instagram. In the caption of his most recent post on the platform, McKnight revealed that he has “legally” changed his name to mirror his infant son’s name. Rather than Brian McKnight, the singer’s name is now allegedly Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr.
“So proud to introduce our son Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr. to the world with the release of my new album lovingly created for him. JR. because I am also proud to officially announce that I have changed my name to exactly match my legacy,” he wrote.
The father ended his caption by revealing that the project is a series of lullabies from “a father to his namesake.” He officially released the 11-track album, “McKnighttime Lullabies,” on Oct. 20.
Swipe below to see his full announcement.
Before the official album announcement, McKnight previewed the track “I Love You” by singing to his little one in a video posted to Instagram Reels.
“I saw you and I only needed three words for the whole song,” McKnight said to his infant, sitting across from him in a high chair.
Within 48 hours of the announcement, his eldest son, Brian McKnight Jr., shared his reaction to the change while responding to a commentator.
@pgh_betty wrote, “I feel so bad, and if I was @brianmcknightjr I’d change my f**kin name. What a corny old a*s man smfh. I’d be so upset to at all be attached.”
In his semi-lengthy response, the singer’s eldest revealed his acceptance of his youngest brother while calling his father’s actions “self-hate.”
“@pgh_betty I’m not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. I’ll never change the name my own son now has. We are witnessing an obscene level of self-hate, that has reached mental illness status at this point. All we can do is pray for that man, and my new little brother, who we will all welcome with open arms one day, once he realizes who his real family is.”
McKnight Sr. faced backlash in May after online users began to dissect how he publicly values his wife, stepchildren, and youngest son compared to his biological children.
Before welcoming his infant and becoming stepfather to Julia and Jack, McKnight Sr. fathered four children — Brian Jr. and Niko with songwriter Julie McKnight, Briana with Patricia Driver, and Clyde with a woman unknown to the public.
Ending his reactive comment, Brian Jr. reassured fans that his father’s legal name change does not phase him.
“Legacy isn’t in the name. It’s in the character of the people. It will all be quite clear soon, just who’s on the right side of all this, because there’s no escaping what’s coming,” Brian McKnight Jr. wrote.
