Rickey Smiley Morning Show Allegations Referenced in Amended Complaint
In his Amended Complaint, Brian McKnight alleges that the disputed statements were not confined to the January 23, 2025 broadcast on FOXY/WFXC/K 107.1/104.3. He contends they were also republished and amplified through a separate Urban One�owned program, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.
The complaint states that on or about December 15, 2025, an episode of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show Podcast was released. The link below is the alleged segment.
�Brian McKnight Jr. Shares The One Thing His Dying Brother Niko Wanted From Their Father.�
The filing alleges that The Rickey Smiley Morning Show is produced, edited, distributed, and controlled by Urban One, Inc., and that Rickey Smiley served as the host and public face of the program during the relevant time period.
The complaint further asserts that Smiley acted with the �actual and apparent authority� of Urban One to present, frame, republish, select, and edit content for a national audience across radio and digital platforms.
Within the broader lawsuit, McKnight alleges that Urban One allowed affiliated platforms to broadcast similar statements without verification and without providing him an opportunity to respond.
Legal Framing in the Complaint
The references to The Rickey Smiley Morning Show appear within claims that include:
Defamation
Negligent and Reckless Publication and Supervision
Vicarious Liability/Respondeat Superior. See the court documents and the full story here.