R&B singer/songwriter Brian McKnight is celebrating a huge win against his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, in court.
McKnight took to Instagram on Thursday, Oct. 16, to celebrate his big win in a video.
He claims he was awarded $8.8 million in punitive damages and legal fees.
In the video, McKnight smokes a cigar and says,
“It’s been a long journey getting to this day October 16th, 2025, but we are here in the English countryside, about an hour and a half outside of London and the verdict is in. We’ve been quiet, listening to liars continue to lie and keeping to ourselves living and loving our life as we said leaving everything in God’s hands, letting our lawyer do the talking.”
He continued:
“But according to the courts, trying to ruin my name and trying to bring harm to my family in a book filled with lies equals $8.8 million dollars, and this is just the beginning because anyone and everyone that helped promote these lies will hear from my lawyer in the days to come.”
McKnight’s fans turned against him and called him a “deadbeat dad” when he prioritized the children with his current wife, Leilani Malia Mendoza, a pediatric neurophysiologist, over his older children.
McKnight legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. to match his youngest son’s name.
The “Back at One” singer was married to singer-songwriter Julie McKnight from 1990–2003. They welcomed two sons, Niko and Brian Jr., whom he called “products of sin.”
On May 30, 2025, Niko (right) died of cancer. His uncle, Claude McKnight, announced his death in a TikTok video.
McKnight had been estranged from Niko for years. He blamed Julie for preventing him from giving Niko the help he needed.
“The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide, we had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home,” McKnight said. “He and his mother declined. The door of communication was open and remained open until his death.”
However, Julie said he made zero effort to contact Niko.
McKnight also has an estranged daughter from a previous relationship.
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