Entertainment
Brian McKnight Shuts Down Fans With Receipts As Proof Of Sold-Out Shows, Months After Nasty Remarks About His Elderly Kids
We have some excellent news for all of the loyal Brian McKnight fans living in Detroit!
More than three months after McKnight’s Motor City concert was canceled, the 55-year-old singer has informed his loyal fans that the concert might not be canceled entirely just yet.
Many suspected the cancellation was as a consequence of low ticket sales or the ridicule he received for his disparaging remarks about older children. But he says that is not true.
On September 1, McKnight shared the news together with his social media followers, explaining the actual reason the show was canceled. Towards the top of the two-minute, 41-second clip, McKnight said he needed to “quickly mention Detroit.”
“I love my fans in Detroit,” he said. “I’ve been playing there every year for 30 (years) and I sell out every time. But my last show was advertised on Facebook, and these bullies jumped into the comments and threatened me and the people who were coming.”
The “Back At One” singer said he and a promoter named Bill felt canceling the show was in everyone’s best interest, “choosing safety over money.” The Detroit show can be rescheduled for a later date in 2025.
The “bullies” McKnight refers to reportedly canceled his event due to the offensive comments he made about his 4 oldest biological children. He called them “the products of sin” and even implied that they were evil.
In a post on April 13, McKnight, who’s a Seventh-day Adventist, said, “To live a life you love, you must get rid of evil and negativity — even if that evil and negativity are related.”
One fan called McKnight’s video a disownment of his children, to which McKnight quickly responded, “1. God didn’t talk about children being a product of sin, which these are. 2. I didn’t raise them, their mothers did. 3. Get the whole story before you quote the Bible. 4. Remove your inaccurate negativity from my page and try to be happy.”
Brian McKnight was exposed by his eldest son, who called them “products of sin.”
Everything you do, your kids and notes, may be used against you in the long run. Now I understand why his ex-wife left him. Children mustn’t clean condoms at any age. 🤦♀️ photo:twitter.com/HEaiENpIvJ
— Yetunde Folarin (@xxyettymamaxx) April 24, 2024
Many fans were disgusted by McKnight’s response, and the drama together with his children ultimately affected his tour. Not only did fans vow to not go to his Detroit show, but his D.C. show, originally scheduled for July, was also postponed until November.
But within the Sept. 1 video, he does greater than just report on Detroit. He also calls out news outlets for reporting rumors about his family drama and being “desperate for clicks,” and assures viewers that he still has a variety of devoted fans.
Running the headline “Brian McKnight’s Ticket Sales Down as Fans Continue to Boycott His Music” and adding footage of his sold-out shows, McKnight said, “There are so many false narratives out there about my fans stopping supporting me. I wanted to acknowledge that just because something is reported on Instagram or YouTube doesn’t mean it’s true.”
He then read a letter from Rochelle Robinson, the mayor of Douglasville, a suburb of Atlanta, thanking him for coming to town to perform.
The letter reads, “As evidenced by the sold-out show, our citizens are huge fans and were excited when they heard you were coming to perform in our city. Thank you for choosing to be here and put on what I know will be a fantastic show,” before hanging up.
McKnight also took a moment to handle radio host and actor Rickey Smiley, who once put in his two cents with regards to “fatherless children,” within the words of McKnight’s oldest son.
“You are not being thrown away, you are not trash, you are being loved, you are being respected,” Smiley said in a social media post in May. “We are usually not here to try to exchange your father, which we are able to’t do, but we may be something for you. Just make certain you grow up and live your life and get the assistance and therapy it’s good to have the ability to maneuver on because words hurt.
He continued, “And she was in so much pain. You know, when you say things like that, it’s a death knell that can’t be turned back.”
I would like adult children #BrianMcKnight who was #disinherited know they’ve a variety of support here. You’re not thrown out.#RickeySmiley photo: twitter.com/rAtO1IH7aL
— Rickey Smiley (@RickeySmiley) May 6, 2024
In the clip, McKnight added that he desired to create a positive space on his platform called Fatherhood Fridays. He said, “I want my first guest to be Rickey Smiley, who is clearly father of the year. See, it’s easy to hit publish and spew out a one-sided, ignorant perspective, but are you manly and fatherly enough to come to my platform and talk? Come on, let’s talk, Rick.”
McKnight has five older children: Brian Jr., Niko, Brian, Clyde, and Braylinn. Brian Jr. and Niko are from his ex-wife Julie, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2003. Briana’s mother is Patricia Diver, and McKnight fathered Clyde with an unknown woman. His teenage daughter Braille is with a lady named Lori Beth, whom he rarely mentions.
McKnight’s three oldest children have publicly admitted that they were abandoned by the singer, but McKnight has vehemently denied this.
However, the “Anytime” singer has boastfully claimed to have stepchildren with current wife Leilani, while denouncing his older biological children. McKnight and Lelani now have a son, and last 12 months he announced that he had legally modified his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. to match his son — making him a junior, although his first son is already a junior.
On his social media profile, McKnights writes that he’s the “father of Julia, Jack, Kekoa Matteo, and Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr.”, deliberately isolating himself from any contact together with his 4 other children.
The “Anytime” singer also admitted that he “never liked anyone” before meeting his now-wife.
However, McKnight’s recent confession was not welcomed as fans reminded him of his behavior towards his children over the past few months.
“Nobody blows us away like we do? Is that true? That’s f—k!ng d—“Khead sat there and said his biological children were created from sin and that he never loved his wife. But at the identical time he loves, praises and takes care of one other man’s children,” one person wrote on Lipstick Alley.
“You can’t make this shit up. Hey Brian, book Madison Square Garden and let us know. Those little 4×4 bar room clubs that max out at 75 people don’t count, man.”
Other he said“this fool described his oldest children as ‘…born in sin…’ AT THE SAME TIME ONE OF THEM WAS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY FOR STAGE 3 CANCER. And let’s not even mention how he described his daughter as promiscuous, knowing full well she was molested as a minor.” They continued, “Anyone who goes to this clown’s shows is either unaware of his trashy personality and behavior, or stupid.”
During the net disputes, McKnight’s 25-year-old son, Niko, revealed on the X show, he said he was attempting to develop their relationship while he was in hospital in April as a consequence of complications from cancer.
Niko claimed he asked his father to inform him he loved him, but said McKnight “couldn’t arbitrarily tell me he loved me. It still hurts so deeply.”
McKnight’s daughter, Briana, sued him in 2021 for defamation and invasion of privacy after she accused her of getting an inappropriate relationship with a member of the family. The case was settled in 2023.
Entertainment
Fans Stand With Serena Williams After Outrageous Statement by MAGA Supporter Who Accused Pregnant Black Mothers of Using Drugs
Serena Williams’ near-death experience following the birth of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, in 2017 has resurfaced amid outrage over a Twitter post blaming black moms for their very own deaths during childbirth.
Studies have shown that the maternal mortality rate for black women is twice that of white women. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that for each 100,000 live births, there have been 70 maternal deaths for black women.
On September 18, Joel Berry, editor-in-chief of the satirical website The Babylon Bee, sparked outrage amongst users when he posted a post that has since been deleted: “My wife is a maternity nurse and I can tell you with absolute certainty that these women have a higher mortality rate because they refuse to use prenatal care, they take more medications, they refuse to eat a proper diet, and they generally don’t take as much care of themselves.”
Outraged advocates for black women were quick to indicate that the tennis player’s self-advocacy saved her life. After an emergency C-section, Williams developed life-threatening complications, including blood clots in her lungs and legs. She also experienced a severe cough that caused the C-section wound to rupture.
The sports icon opened up in regards to the terrifying experience in a 2018 interview with “Today.” She said her persistent requests for a CT scan led doctors to find the blockages. “I can’t believe how much went wrong on the way to meet her. … I almost died,” Williams said.
She also opened up about her harrowing birthing story within the HBO documentary Being Serena, which was released the identical 12 months. The 23-time Grand Slam winner also told her medical team that she was at increased risk for potentially fatal blood clots after suffering a embolism in 2011.
There has been a backlash against the MAGA supporter online, with many pointing to Williams’ history to refute his claims. “The greatest athlete of all time IS BEING IGNORED ON THE SURGEON’S TABLE. Serena Williams almost fucking died in childbirth. I can’t believe it. Unlimited GALA,” one wrote tweet.
Second user common“Serena Williams almost died because she didn’t take her prenatal meds and took drugs??? Maybe… his wife could base her care on that assumption. Studies do show that drug use is highest among the most privileged, but carry on.”
Berry is “pro-life” and swears he’s not a racist. And I wouldn’t want his wife to take care of any black woman’s pregnancy, given those thoughts. https://t.co/VQ3QySxI7K
— @ijbailey (@ijbailey) September 20, 2024
Third tweet To read“It all makes sense. I mean, Serena Williams had serious complications during childbirth, and who eats worse than the world’s number 1 tennis player??” Another user called Berry’s wife’s claims “complete racist bullshit,” as one other person hoped she could be sued for violating her Hippocratic oath.
Two years later, in 2019, Williams helped Mahmee, a tech company hoping to rework prenatal and postnatal take care of moms and kids, raise $3 million.
A month before the couple’s second daughter, Adira, is due in 2023, Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian said People “They were obviously taking every precaution and doing everything they could to make sure everything went smoothly for Serena,” though he didn’t provide details on the measures being taken to make sure history didn’t repeat itself.
Another viral lie. Amber Nicole Thurman got sepsis after taking an abortion pill that did not remove all of the contents of her uterus. She didn’t get timely care from her abortion provider and died. Georgia law didn’t prevent her from getting the care she needed. Georgia law doesn’t… photo:twitter.com/nhJvgw1nNh
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) September 18, 2024
Additionally, on September 18, Berry shared the tragic story of Amber Nicole Thurman, a Georgia mother who died in August 2022 from complications caused by a delay in receiving medical care attributable to that state’s anti-abortion laws.
Thurman, who was six weeks pregnant, went to a North Carolina clinic where she was given abortion pills. A number of days after the abortion was induced, she developed an infection attributable to fetal tissue remaining within the uterus.
The mother of one experienced significant blood loss and loss of consciousness, prompting her to hunt medical attention at Piedmont Henry Hospital. She required dilation and curettage, a procedure to empty the uterus of its contents, but was denied the care she needed for 20 hours.
This Young Georgia Mom Was Killed By An Abortionist After She Got Stuck In Traffic On Her Way To An Abortion Clinic, And The Clinic Refused To Book Her A Surgery Slot. Instead, They Sent Her Home With The Abortion Pills Mifepristone And Misoprostol, Which Caused Her Septicemia… https://t.co/H8fvm2wmq7
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) September 18, 2024
While within the hospital, her organs failed before staff intervened. Her death was ruled “preventable,” in line with ProPublica. Georgia law prohibits doctors from terminating a pregnancy after six weeks, the time when the fetus has a detectable heartbeat.
Berry insists the black mother was “killed by the abortionist” who provided her with the pills, not because she was denied the life-saving procedure after she became unwell.
Entertainment
Sam Jay became a comedy master later in life. She explains how in “Masters of the Game”
Sam Jay is the very unlikely latest star in comedy. She began doing stand-up at 29, is a black lesbian from Boston, and is now a universally adored master of the art of stand-up. You can see it in the way she walks on stage and relaxes. You can see it in the way she exudes that factor. You can see it in the way she delivers her jokes like she’s throwing a game—calm but cocky, laid-back but deadly. She’s hysterical, and on several occasions she’s made me laugh so hard I physically hurt. She has one long line about playing around along with her fiancée, and no, I can’t even paraphrase that line. I’m just saying she’s really sharp at her craft. She told me she studied comedy and that’s why she’s a master of the game now. Don’t miss my hysterical interview along with her on “Masters of the Game,” now available on theGrio.
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Jay got into comedy late because that is how life dealt her. When Jay was a teenager in Boston, she was interested in comedy, but her mother was sick for years. She died when Jay was 19, after which Jay went through years of depression and illness. She immersed herself in comedy after which went back to normal life. But when she was 29, very late in her comedian life, she was living in Atlanta and dating the woman who’s now her fiancée. She was coming out of depression, becoming an open lesbian, and she or he was able to attack comedy. She tried it and realized that she desired to succeed there greater than the rest. She went to clubs and commenced studying, and a decade later she’s a star on the rise.
To hear Jay’s full story and her thoughts on what it takes to be a great comedian, take a look at our interview on Masters of the Game.
Entertainment
Rapper Chingy Drops Controversial Republican Party Run After Fan Backlash
Rapper Chingy has faced criticism for his attendance at a Republican Party-sponsored human rights summit attended by the country’s largest and oldest organization representing LGBT conservatives and their heterosexual allies.
His name appeared on a “Red White & Rock” flyer produced by the sponsoring organization, alongside the likes of Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. as headliners for the evening.
When the Jasmine brand published After the flyer was released, a lot of his fans shared their thoughts on his booking.
🔥🎸READY TO ROCK? 🇺🇸🔥
Log Cabin heads to Music City on Sunday, September twenty ninth!
TICKETS: https://t.co/LNV2xPWZdp photo: twitter.com/77LzeE96Xa
— Log Cabin Republicans (@LogCabinGOP) September 20, 2024
Despite his try to deflect attention from his political affiliations, many social media users compared him to Chrisette Michele, who faced similar criticism for her performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“They better do to him what they did to Chrisette Michele,” one comment read, while one other agreed and said, “Drag him down like you did to Chrisette Michele!” @tyrese Where are you? Because you had quite a lot of warmth for Chrisette.”
Chingy’s planned appearance on the event has reignited the discussion about artists supporting controversial causes for profit.
“Let Chingy do what he has to do for his pork chop and pay his electric bill in peace. Because his performance won’t affect my vote one bit,” one commenter said bluntly.
Another wrote: “Not all money is good money, Chingy. It’s the difference between chasing a dollar and creating a brand.”
A 3rd comment read: “At least he said it was just about the money, most people wouldn’t even admit that.”
Chingy was so overwhelmed by people’s criticism for participating within the controversial event, Log cabin event during which he addressed his fans and critics with a special statement.
The ‘Right Thurr’ star wrote: “I said it once. MY JOB IS TO PERFORM AND I GET PAID TO PERFORM, NOT FOR POLITICS. NOW FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOUR TIME.”
He added: “HEY, MAYOR, IT’S SEPTEMBER 14THTH CHINGY DAY IN ST LOUIS! WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE VASSAL BLOGS?”
Someone told him“Just tell us you’re in a bad mood,” in line with Baller Alert, to which he replied, “You can’t be in a bad mood when you just bought a $500,000 house.”
“These people don’t hate me because they love my music. The music is not racist and that’s how I play it. All this crap you guys create doesn’t bother me at all,” he continued.
He added: “I’m a performer, whether those people are political or gay or whatever — everybody loves music. I have classic records that everybody loves, and I’ll perform them for them. So I hope that helps you understand that my job as an artist is to perform and create timeless music. And that’s what I did.”
Chingy continued to attempt to make his case on social media. One Instagrammer asked the rapper directly, “What the hell, you a Trump supporter now?” to which he replied, “No, correction, I’m a Chingy supporter. My job is to perform, not to be political.”
This would not be the primary time Chingy’s support for Donald Trump has been met with resistance.
In 2016, the rapper posted a tweet supporting Trump.
“Politics vs. society. People need to understand that politics is a business, just like the job you do. I’m voting for @realDonaldTrump,” he wrote in January 2016. After posting the tweet, the rapper was inundated with backlash, withdrawing his support and admitting he was not fully informed.
“Everything I wrote was completely taken out of content… but I’m still on top. lmao #LiveofACeleb #TwitterIsTheDevil #NoEndorsement,” he said he tweeted later that very same day.
He later said that in line with Bulletin board“I thought it was good stuff. Obviously, we want to keep terrorism out of the country. I didn’t know about some of the negative things he had to say about some of the racing here and the hip-hop community. I didn’t know about a lot of the negative stuff, I was just commenting on reading the article and reading some of the good things he said, so that’s where my comments came from.”
The Red White & Rock event that has sparked a lot discussion is a fundraiser for the Republican Party and can happen on September 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. in Nashville.
The St. Louis native has not formally endorsed any candidate on this round and doesn’t appear to have any political content on his energetic Instagram account. However, after receiving mounting backlash, he decided to tug out of the event.
“YOU KNOW WHAT, BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MESS. I REFUSED TO PERFORM AND NO, I AM NOT A SUPPORTER OF TRUMP OR ANYONE ELSE BUT CHINGY. YES YOU DO,” Chingy said, in line with an Instagram screenshot captured by TeaWith Tia.
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