Overview
- McKnight filed a defamation lawsuit in North Carolina against Foxy 107.1, its owner Urban One, host Karen Clark, and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.
- The complaint centers on a Jan. 23, 2025 Foxy 107.1 interview with ex‑wife Julie McKnight that he says portrayed him as emotionally abusive, mentally abusive, and a neglectful father.
- He alleges the station failed to verify Julie McKnight’s statements, offered no opportunity for his response, and posted the segment to YouTube, magnifying reputational harm.
- The suit also cites a Dec. 15, 2025 Rickey Smiley Morning Show episode that aired an edited clip of Brian McKnight Jr. claiming his father refused to tell Niko he loved him, which McKnight says lacked context.
- He seeks more than $25,000 in compensatory damages per claim plus punitive damages, and no formal responses from Rickey Smiley or Karen Clark were reported as of publication.