Detroit’s MotorCity Casino Canceled Brian McKnight Gig After Fan Backlash

Posted on: May 30, 2024, 11:10h. 

Last updated on: May 30, 2024, 11:31h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

A Brian McKnight concert scheduled for June 9 was canceled by Detroit’s MotorCity Casino Hotel not long after it was announced via the resort’s Facebook page.

Brian McKnight is an R&B singer who scored four Top 10 albums, 17 Grammy nominations, and a No. 2 pop hit, “Back at One,” in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. (Image: facts.net)

The casino provided no reason for its decision. However, it has since become clear, according to a new report in The Source, that it was influenced by a flood of negative comments from self-described “former fans” who were outraged over comments McKnight made in a viral social media video.

In the viral clip, posted to TikTok on April 14, the R&B singer called his eldest two sons “products of sin.” Brian Jr. and Niko were born to McKnight and his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, before they married.

McKnight, who was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist church, added in the clip that people must “get rid of the evil and the negativity, even if that evil and negativity is related” to them.

Ticketmaster’s vague cancelation notice. (Image: Ticketmaster)

Not Still in Love

Among the negative comments that piled up beneath MotorCity’s concert announcement were the following…

“He has to be a narcissist to even think he still has a fan base after the way he’s treated (his) children.” — Lesley Hal

“As a superfan of Brian McKnight, his recent actions have saddened me greatly. He is such a talented singer but sheesh … I can’t support his music anymore.” — Asha K Jones-Wade

“I wouldn’t go if they were giving away the tickets!!!!” — Andria Walker.

At first, the casino turned off commenting on its post. Ultimately, though, it decided to cancel McKnight’s concert.

McKnight has six children in total, including two stepchildren with his current wife, pediatric neurophysiologist Leilani Mendoza.

In the controversial TikTok video, McKnight called Julia McPhee, one of his stepchildren with Mendoza, his “only daughter,” even though his children also include Briana Knight, whom he fathered with ex-girlfriend Patricia Driver.

Briana is illegitimate and I don’t acknowledge her existence,” the singer said when questioned about her in the same video. “She is definitely not my daughter. Thanks for letting me make that clear again, though.”

McKnight has eight concert dates on his current Ticketmaster calendar. Running through Dec. 20, they include June 1 at Pala Casino near San Diego and July 12 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.