Kniko Howard is the son of one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile women, Draya Michele. Draya has made a name for herself in the modeling, acting, and fashion industry. While Knicko’s mother has been a regular media face, there has been much talk in the past about Howard’s father.
Initially, the Instagram star Kniko Howard tried to avoid the rumors, but in the end, he couldn’t stand the public and media talk and eventually came forward with the real story. According to Drew, Knicko’s biological father currently works as a hairdresser in Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Michelle has been working several non-working jobs to raise her son as a single mother. Despite all this, the television veteran was accused of being a bad mother to her son Knicko Howard for some silly reason.
Here we have much more to tell about Daria Michelle’s son. Let’s get started!
Who Is Kniko Howard’s Father? His Mother Got Pregnant At 17
Michele initially remained tight-lipped when it came to the identity of the father of her firstborn child, Kinko. Amidst speculation, Knicko’s mother began a relationship with former professional basketball player Gilbert Arenas. Sources say that the two did not have a good relationship during their difficult relationship. In the meantime, however, people began to speculate that Arenas was Howard’s real father.
As soon as the rumors hit the media, the former Washington Wizards’ general manager denied them and claimed that the two only met for the first time in 2008. He said he was introduced to him by one of his teammates, Deshawn Stevenson.
Later, many internet tabloids claimed that Gilbert had paid around $20,000 to keep the news secret. In response to this allegation, the basketball star challenged many famous tabloids, including TMZ and Baller Alert, to prove the news. In addition, Gilbert pledged to donate a substantial sum of $1 million to each of these charities if they proved the allegation. However, they were never able to find the truth.
Despite all this, rumors continued to circulate on the web. In 2016, former Basketball Wives alumna Jennifer Williams shouted about Arenas being Knicko’s father during the premiere of TV One’s The Next 15. There, she said she once saw a leaked email saying that Gilbert was Knicko’s father.
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Kniko Howard’s Mother Draya Michele Revealed The Biological Father Of Her Son
After years of rumors and accusations about Knicko Howard’s father, actress Draya finally came forward with the truth. A day after Jennifer’s allegations, Michele explained everything from her pregnancy to the imprisonment of the child’s father. Drew wrote that she was just 17 years old when she conceived her first child with a man who was later jailed for 10 years when she was 7 months pregnant. In her words,
“Here is Darya….. At 17 years old I got pregnant by a man who became incarcerated for 10 when I was 7 months pregnant. With help from my mom, I was able to survive.”
Furthermore, the Instagram model revealed that there was no way she could have got pregnant with Arenas in 2002,
“Now, judging by how under-developed and young I was, besides living in a very small city in PA….. There’s no way in 2002 I got pregnant by some athlete.”
Draya went on to say that if she was in a relationship with an athlete at the time, she did not have to work for years in a “club”,
“If I had, there is no way I would have wasted 7 years of my life working in the ‘club’ because clearly child support would have been at a premium. I have never received a DIME of child support in my life, and that’s a good thing.”
Kniko Howard’s Father Is A “Barber”
In a long story explaining all the scenarios of her child’s father, Michele went on to describe the whereabouts of Howard’s biological dad, Kniko Sr. She revealed that her ex-boyfriend currently works as a hairdresser in Pennsylvania. Draya wrote: “Draya has written that Kivic is her father and sister,
“I have also NEVER attempted to say anyone other than who my son is named after (yes he’s a junior) was the father. My son’s father lives in pa and makes an honest living being a barber. This shit is completely embarrassing to me and my family. And I intend on putting this to final rest.”
She added,
“I’m pissed that I had to take time from remodeling my office in my brand new 4000 square foot warehouse to even address this. But I’ve been quiet too long. I’ve also let people tell “my story” on tv too many times. I’ll speak my truths….. You speak your own and keep whatever momentum going by doing that. God bless. Leave the kids out of it for heaven’s sake.”
Is Draya Michele Really A Bad Mother? Her Homework Scandal With Her Son
Not even a year had passed since the closure of Kniko’s father’s case, and Draya once again received a huge backlash for not being a good mother. It all happened at the end of 2017 when the fashion designer posted a photo of her children and wrote in a note that she refused to sign her son’s homework because he got low grades.
“I’m all for helping my child with his homework, but at this point, [the teacher] has him harassing me with his speech. I don’t wanna hear it no more! I’m hearing it two times a day for a month straight … Last night he asked me to sign and I said, ‘No. Tell your teacher I’m done with this.’ And today he doesn’t get points because I don’t wanna sign it. It’s not my damn homework. But it feels like it. What do y’all think?”
Fans were quick to react to the post, saying that Drew is an irresponsible mother. But it was not the first time Michelle was condemned in the media. But she also made headlines when she was arrested for endangerment in 2010. According to sources, the model had left her son alone in her unguarded home in Wyomissing while working in Philadelphia. She was later released on bail of $25,000 by District Judge Ann L. Young.
On 16 December 2010, a police officer found Howard alone in the apartment at around 2 a.m. after the boy called 9-1-1 and reported that he was home alone.
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How Old Is Draya Michele’s Son Kniko Howard? His Early Life
Kniko Howard’s exact date of birth has not yet been revealed. However, since his mother said she was 17 when she was pregnant, we can speculate that Kniko Howard will be around 20 in 2023. He spent most of his childhood in Pennsylvania. He currently lives with his mother in Los Angeles.
In addition, as far as his nationality is concerned, he is of African-American descent.
Kniko Howard Has A Half-Brother
Howard has a younger half-brother named Jru Scandrick from his mother’s previous relationship with her ex-fiancé Orlando Scandrick, an NFL cornerback. Their child was born in 2016.
After some time, the two were in a relationship, they also got engaged, but did not manage to go through with the wedding.
Quick Facts About Kniko Howard
| Full Name | Kniko Howard |
| Date of Birth | 2002 |
| Birth Place | United State of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Father | Kniko Howard Sr. |
| Mother | Draya Michele |
| Siblings | Jru Scandrick |
| Gay | No |
| Married | No |
| Girlfriend | No |
| Net Worth | $1 million |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inch |
| Weight | 57Kg |