Brian McKnight sues ex-wife, son in defamation lawsuit
Brian McKnight sues ex-wife, son in defamation lawsuit
James Powel, USA TODAYFri, April 24, 2026 at 1:11 AM UTC
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Singer Brian McKnight has filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, son, two media figures and the New York Post, saying that they participated in a "public smearing campaign" against him in the wake of his son's death last year.
The complaint, filed in Georgia federal court on April 21 and obtained by USA TODAY, alleges that Julie McKnight, Brian McKnight Jr., journalist Marc Lamont Hill, online personality Tasha K and the tabloid created a "sensational but false narrative" that caused "catastrophic harm" to McKnight's reputation and career.
"Defendants’ relentless and persistent assault upon his character has left him with no alternative but to seek the vindication that only comes from the truth," the complaint reads.
Brian Williamson, one of McKnight’s attorneys, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that additional defendants may be added to the lawsuit. The suit seeks compensatory damages.
An initial hearing date does not appear in the court record as of April 23. USA TODAY has reached out to the defendants for comment.
Why is Brian McKnight suing?
Brian McKnight sings the United States National Anthem prior to the MLS All-Star Game between Arsenal FC and MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.
The lawsuit largely stems from appearances and interviews Julie and McKnight Jr. have made in the past year, where the pair have alleged that McKnight abandoned his kids.
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McKnight Jr. alleged in an appearance on Hill's podcast that his father refused to tell his son, Niko, that he loved him as he was battling the cancer that led to his death. The complaint also points to an appearance by Hill on the "Joe Budden Podcast" where he called McKnight multiple epithets.
The lawsuit alleges that Tasha K, legal name Latasha Transrina Kebe, repeatedly made claims that McKnight "abandoned his children and engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor" in an interview with his ex-wife.
It alleges that the Post "amplified" the allegations by "presenting the statements" made by McKnight's family as "credible factual assertions" without contacting him or "investigating readily available evidence."
McKnight's lawsuit second of the year
McKnight filed a lawsuit against “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” its parent company Urban One and host Karen Clark on similar grounds in March, according to The Grio.
Urban One is seeking dismissal of the case, pointing to the "actual malice" standard for public figures and claiming that the disputed statements are opinions, according to radio trade outlet Inside Radio.
Brian has claimed in a since-deleted Instagram video to have won an earlier defamation lawsuit filed in North Carolina against his ex-wife, The Grio reported. Williamson told the Journal-Constitution that Julie is challenging the default judgment.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brian McKnight files defamation lawsuit against son, ex-wife
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