Brian McKnight criticized for changing his name to match with his newborn son

While new additions to the family should be a time of joy, one singer is facing the wrath of social media for changing his name to be in line with his newborn son.

Brian McKnight, a 17-time Grammy nominee and famed singer, has been slammed online after he shared that he had legally changed his name in order to become a senior to his newborn son.

The twist? He was already a senior to his eldest son, Brian McKnight Jr, prior to this.

Instagram/@brianmcknight23

This is because the singer changed his name to include his newborn’s name in the middle, essentially cancelling out his old Sr for a new Sr title.

McKnight happily declared his son’s name in an Instagram caption on October 20.

He wrote: “So proud to introduce our son BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA JR.”

“To the world with the release of my new album lovingly created for him. JR. because I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to exactly match my legacy’s.”

Now, the ‘Back at One’ singer has legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr.

After sharing a snap of his 9-month-old son with wife Leilani, the 54-year-old was met with a tidal wave of backlash from both online users and his own children from previous relationships.

Instagram/@brianmcknight23

His four eldest children, McKnight Jr., Niko, Briana and Clyde, have been gaining sympathy from this name scandal after fans were quick to call the singer out for distancing himself from them.

One person tweeted: “Brian McKnight is so wicked. He changed his last name to Makoa McKnight so he could name his newborn Brian Makoa McKnight Jr., when he already has a son named Brian McKnight Jr.

"Idk how much more wicked one can be."

“I’ve never seen anyone proudly demonstrate how much they hate their children like Brian McKnight,” another chimed in.

“Changing his name to match the new baby when he’s already got a Jr is next level cruel. he’s a trash human being for not only doing it, but also putting it on display to the world.”

Another person had no words to describe their feelings on this matter “This is just…there are no words to describe how much of a vile human being you have to be to hurt your first born son, by doing some mess like this! #BrianMcknight is truly disgusting for this!”

Instagram/@bryanmcknightjr

It was only after McKnight Jr. himself took to Instagram to respond to his father’s new name after a fan suggested he change his name as not to be associated with his father.

McKnight Jr. wrote: “I’m not ashamed of the name my ancestors had.

“I’ll never change the name my own son now has. We are witnessing an obscene level of self hate, that has reached mental illness status at this point.”

He said that he will welcome his new brother ‘with open arms one day, once he realizes who his real family is.’

He continued: “Legacy isn’t in the name. It’s in the character of the people. It will all be quite clear soon, just who’s on the right side of all this, because there’s no escaping what’s coming.”