In news that should honestly come as a surprise to no one, singer Brian McKnight has seemingly stooped to a new low when it comes to his fatherhood journey. As previously reported by The Root, the “Anytime” singer has been raked over the coals over the last year by folks online as the disturbing details about how he talked about, treated and currently treats his three older biological children have been made public.
Outside of those children, he is also a stepdad to the two kids his current wife Leilani Mendoza had prior to their marriage. The couple also welcomed a son together nearly two years ago. But to be clear: those three latter children are the only ones that the singer has claimed as his — not the aforementioned three eldest ones.
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So it’s a wonder why, over the weekend, the “Back at One” singer would kick off a new series on his Instagram page entitled “Fatherhood Fridays,” that he said is for the sole purpose of sharing his fatherhood journey and highlighting other men who are “exceptional examples of what a great father should be.” In the beginning, he mentioned that he was supposed to be joined by a special guest named “Rick,” but since he was a no-show, he assumed he wasn’t “man enough” to come on and face him.
Following that shady comment, McKnight went on to get to the root of why he started this series.
“Fatherhood Fridays is about how when you do things the right way, with God on your side, with the person made for you, that happiness and joy you feel will be greater than anything you could’ve ever imagined,” McKnight said int he video before a photo of himself, Leilani, their toddler son Brian Jr. and stepchildren Julia and Jack appeared.
As the video progressed, “The Only One For Me” crooner went on to dote on the relationship he’s created with Juila and Jack, rearing them, and praised them for their current academic successes. He also credited the youngest child for being the official “blood” connector between he and Leilani, saying that “he’s the one that ties us together.”
“They gave me the gift of true fatherhood,” McKnight said. “They are mine; I am theirs. What we have is symbiotic. They nurture me as much as I nurture them. See, there’s a huge difference when a man is a father out of choice and desire and not out of obligation and that’s what ‘Fatherhood Fridays’ is all about, the joys of fatherhood.”
Naturally, once fans got wind of this video, they had a lot to say about it and the continued narrative that McKnight has pushed that resulted in him disowning his three eldest children and causing a “mutual” estrangement between them. (If my biological father called me a “product of sin” and described me as evil, I’d probably be estranged, too).
“Girl fuck Brian McKnight,” one user wrote on X/Twitter.
“This is who Dr. Cheyenne needs to sit with next,” said another, referencing another viral video of life coach and doctor of psychology Dr. Cheyenne Bryant who recently called Cam Newton on the carpet for his behavior and attitudes towards children.
Said another: “There’s a special place in hell for men like Brian McKnight and DJ Mustard.”
“Brian McKnight making fatherhood content is weird. I thought you’re supposed to highlight the things that you’re actually good at” one other user questioned.
However, some users under his Instagram post were a bit more understanding and supportive of McKnight’s new series. It remains to be seen just how productive if at all, this new endeavor his will be when it comes to mending relationships with his older children.
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