Kapag mga sikat na personalidad sa Pilipinas ang namamatay, nag-uunahan ang mga netizen sa pagbabalita dahil scoop ito para sa kanila.
Read: Brian McKnight mesmerizes Filipinos anew with one-night concert at the Big Dome
Ito ay kahit na immediate family members—o awtoridad o official representative ng pamilya—ang higit na may karapatang mag-anunsyo.
Pero sa kaso ng American singer na si Brian McKnight, mali ang ginawa ng kapatid nitong si Claude.
Si Claude nanguna sa pagbabalita ng pagpanaw ng anak ni Brian na si Niko.
Si Niko ay anak ni Brian sa ex-wife nito na si Julie.
Pumanaw si Niko noong Mayo 29, 2025, dahil sa mahigit na dalawang taong pakikipaglaban sa kanser. Siya ay 32 taong gulang.
Noong Biyernes, Mayo 30, ibinahagi ni Claude sa TikTok na pumanaw na ang pamangkin.
Bahagi ng mensahe ni Claude: "This morning I found out that my nephew Niko McKnight passed away. He’d been bravely battling cancer for the past two years or so.
"Niko was one of those amazing kids — quirky and curious and ridiculously talented.
"Amazing singer, amazing guitar player. Had a great eye as a photographer. And one of those kids, at least in my estimation, that you always wanted to be around and so it really sucks that he’s no longer with us.
Kapansin-pansin naman sa TikTok video ni Claude ang pahapyaw nitong komento na ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang "family drama" na maaaring dinibdib ni Niko.
Pero sabi rin niya, ang mahalaga ay malaya na si Niko sa sakit dala ng karamdaman nito.
Dagdag na caption ni Claude: "If you comment please do do in love, and NOT at what you may have heard about the relationship my brother had/has with his kids. Thank you."
Read: Directors guild, tinutulan ang MTRCB Act: "No to censorship!"
BRIAN MCKNIGHT CLAPS BACK AT BROTHER CLAUDE
Hindi nagustuhan ni Brian ang pangunguna sa kanya ni Claude.
Kahapon, June 4, naglabas si Brian ng pahayag sa kanyang Instagram.
"A big big thanks to Claude Mcknight’s tasteless and self aggrandizing announcement on TikTok, that frankly was not his to make, in my opinion, he inserted himself and used Niko’s death as an opportunity, instead of letting him pass with respect and dignity.
"It has instead turned into a circus, a mockery of a life now lost, making this tragedy into a reality show type drama," sarkastikong pahayag ni Brian patungkol kay Claude.
BRIAN MCKNIGHT ON OFFERING HELP TO HIS SON NIKO
Sabay ipinaliwanag ni Brian ang masalimuot na sitwasyon sa pagitan niya at ng anak na si Niko.
"While that was unfolding my family and I flew home to Maui and had a private memorial remembering him, and all the good times.
"The last time he and I spoke, we offered him all the help we could provide, we had the number one oncologist on deck for him and a team of specialists on standby with private care in our home.
"He and his mother declined."
May halong panunumbat at paninisi ang sumunod na mga salita ni Brian, dahil sa diumano’y pagtanggi ng ina ni Niko sa tulong na inaalok niya noon.
"The door of communication was open and remained open until his death.
"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," saad ni Brian.
Read: President Marcos notices Kamuning Footbridge; orders its removal
BRIAN MCKNIGHT FALLING OUT WITH FIRST FAMILY
Dahil sa rebelasyon ng singer na nagpasikat sa mga kantang "Back at One" at "One Last Cry," muling naungkat ang matagal nang estranged relationship nila ng kanyang unang pamilya.
Pinatindi iyon ng pahayag ni Brian noong 2024 na "product of sin" ang dalawa niyang anak kay Julie, pati na ang anak na babae sa nakarelasyong si Patricia Driver.
May pangalawa ng pamilya si Brian.
Pinakasalan niya ang current wife niya na si Leilani noong 2017, at mayroon silang dalawang anak. Itinuturing ni Brian na mga anak ang dalawang anak ni Leilani bago naging sila.
Sa gitna ng pagpanaw ng anak niyang si Niko, naghugas-kamay si Brian at iginiit na malinis ang kanyang konsyensya.
"There is great comfort in knowing God knows the TRUTH and the totality of the WHOLE story. I am truly thankful for the immense peace God has given me. I’ve left everything in HIS hands. I, have a clear conscience. The only judgement that matters is God’s.
"My wife, our children and I are eternally thankful to Almighty God that the suffering has come to an end and grateful for all of your condolences.
"Thanks to those of you have known The truth from the beginning and haven’t let untruths, half truths or slander, prejudice your opinion," ang huling bahagi ng IG post ni Brian.
Ang asawa at mga anak nila ni Leilani ang tanging tinukoy niyang "wife and children" dahil malinaw na di pa rin tapos ang drama sa pagitan niya at ibang mga anak.