Briana filed the lawsuit in 2020 and alleged that her father 'maliciously defamed' her on social media by saying 'she had some years earlier, and while a minor, engaged in sexual relations with an older cousin.'
- May 5, 2023
AceShowbiz - Brian McKnight had been dragged to court by his estranged daughter. The "Back at One" singer was being sued by Briana for allegedly lying about her sleeping with her own cousin.
RadarOnline.com reported that Briana filed the lawsuit in 2020. In her complaint, she alleged that her father "maliciously defamed" her on social media by saying "she had some years earlier, and while a minor, engaged in sexual relations with an older cousin."
Briana, whom Brian shares with a woman named Patricia Driver, said they have had a tumultuous relationship for years. However, she said she had had a close relationship with Niko and BJ, Brian's sons shared with his then-wife Julie.
Briana had tried to reach out to Brian's wife in 2018 because she wanted to establish a bond with her dad. However, the singer reportedly dismissed her efforts and "did not see or meaningfully communicate with her."
For that reason, Briana decided to share "aspects of her perceptions of growing up with an unnamed absent father on her personal Instagram page." Still, she didn't mention Brian by his name, did no describe him as a celebrity, did not refer to his profession, or identity him in any way.
Brian took issue with the post though, prompting him to attack her on his own page. "And unfortunately along the way, a couple years ago I caught wind that there was an older cousin who was above 18 who was quite possibly having sex with her," Brian said of Briana, adding that he has "called...to the state office for children's affairs there in Arizona" but he "never heard anything back."
Denying the claim, Briana said in the lawsuit, "Briana had never engaged in any sexual contact of any kind with any relative of any age while a minor or otherwise." Brian denied making up the lies and the two eventually agreed to dismiss the lawsuit before trial.
