Brian McKnight just hit 56, and his wife, Leilani Mendoza, made sure to lift her hubby’s mood following the recent tragic events unfolding in their lives! The couple, married since 2017, celebrated Brian’s big day out in China. But the vibes were understandably bittersweet. Just days before, the singer had attended the memorial of his estranged son, Niko, who passed away from cancer. His demise, revealed by Brian’s brother, Claude, sparked a family feud, with the New York native addressing the drama in a post shortly after. From loss to love, here’s the lowdown on Brian’s emotional week.
RELATED: Brian McKnight Jr. Shares Cryptic Post About Narcissism Amid Family Comments After Brother’s Passing
Leilani Celebrates Brian On His Birthday
Leilani came through with all the love for Brian McKnight’s 56th birthday on June 5, amid recent circumstances. Posting from the Great Wall of China, she shared a sweet photo of her husband soaking in the view and appearing to be deep in thought. Meanwhile, her accompanying caption was all about love and admiration for the man she calls her partner.
“Happy Birthday Boopy!” she wrote. “Today, on the Great Wall of China, we celebrate the day God placed the most extraordinary man on this earth 56 years ago—the man who is my husband, my heart, my Superman. You are our family’s rock, our hero, and the love of my life.”
Leilani went on to praise Brian’s loving strength and “unwavering integrity,” saying it’s an “incredible honor” to be his wife and raise their kids together. “If the world could catch even a glimpse of the man we see… they’d understand just how deeply blessed we are by you,” she added.
“Hauʻoli lā hānau, my love. I fall in love with you more every day. You are my dream come true, my answered prayer, my everything.”
Social Media Showed Their Support In The Comments Section
The endearing Instagram post was met with heartfelt responses from people who continued to send their condolences and prayers to the family after Niko’s recent passing. Here’s what some of them had to say…
@_chopjohnson wrote, “Happy Birthday Big Guy! Life is an obstacle when dealing with multiple spirits and people that never want to see the best for you no matter how great your are.”
@jballzng shared, “Congratulations and happy birthday @brianmcknight23 may God and guide and bless your path with peace as you celebrate this phase of your life.”
Elsewhere, @crews9048 shared, “Happy Birthday Gemini Twin! Keep your head up!”
@healthy_living_chic wrote, “Happy birthday!! It’s my favorite singer since I was 18 years old!! Teddy Pendergrass of my era!!”
@alicevaughan.xo wrote, “Happy birthday, hopefully everything goes well for all the family ❤️”
@deb7569 wrote, “Happy Happy Birthday to you B 🎂 I Pray for you all continuously 🙏🏻 May God continue to Bless you & your family Always!”
@rodney.east wrote, “Happy Birthday Bro, Hope u enjoy your Special Day, Send’n Much Love & Blessings 2 u & @leilani_211 & The Family From The East…!!🙏🏾💪🏾🎂”
Brian McKnight Slams His Family For Sharing News Of Niko’s Passing
Just one day before his birthday, Brian was not in a celebratory mood. The singer took to Instagram on June 4, clapping back at his brother, Claude, for announcing the passing of Brian’s estranged son on TikTok. Niko, who was just 32, lost his battle with cancer after a two-year fight, and Brian was heated about how the news was shared.
In a fiery reel, Brian called Claude’s post “tasteless and self-aggrandizing,” saying it was “not his announcement to make.” He felt his brother turned Niko’s death into a “circus” and a “reality show type drama,” instead of letting him “pass with respect and dignity.”
Brian revealed he’d quietly flown to Maui for a private memorial to honor Niko, reminiscing on “all the good times.” He also shared that he had offered Niko top-tier medical care, including “the number one oncologist” and a team of specialists. But Niko and his mother, Julie McKnight, declined.
“The door of communication was open and remained open until his death,” Brian added, hinting at their strained relationship. “To the self proclaimed ‘mama bear’ may God have mercy on your soul for not allowing him to accept that help and not allowing him to use that line of communication.”
