ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 18: Nick Cannon speaks onstage during the Future Superstar tour at Tabernacle on March 18, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Nick Cannon describes himself as a “fearless romantic” who loves love. But, the mogul isn’t looking to settle down with any woman, including the six who gave birth to his 12 children.
Cannon appeared on the latest episode of Stepping Into The Shade Room and spoke extensively about his career trajectory, fatherhood, and fluidity in romance.
Around the 17:15 mark in the interview, Cannon admitted that he doesn’t want monogamy. He admits he may entertain women outside his ‘tribe,’ but his focus remains on his children and booming businesses.
“My focus now is my children and then my business. I literally don’t have time,” Nick said. He added, “that [relationship] energy, I don’t have the bandwidth, and then I feel like I’d be doing a disservice to my family if I’m out here looking for love.”
With his schedule and responsibilities, Nick says going on a date today could mean not seeing him again for another four months.
Despite loving love, an attachment he uncovered in therapy, Nick prefers not to disturb his family dynamics. He loves the mothers of his children–Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Alyssa Scott, Brie Tiesi, and Lanisha Cole. That much he made clear.
Still, Cannon thinks choosing one of the “amazing” women as his girlfriend, or otherwise, would also be a disservice to their family. So, although he “sees a future” with them, it’s not in the traditional ‘grow old together’ sense.
“…but then that’s a disservice to the other ones,” Nick responded after TSR Social Content Director Thembi asked whether he sees a future with just one of the mothers of his children. “I’m over here and if you wanna see me I’ll be at the house.”
Cannon also denied that he’s lonely–referencing his children.
“I got everything I want,” Nick said. “It’s a blessing.”
Everything to Nick includes partnership, which Cannon says he has within his individualized connections to Mariah, Brittany, Abby, Alyssa, Brie, and Lanisha.
“I never want to generalize the relationships that I have, like ‘oh these my ladies…’ That’s silly. I have individual relationships with each person in my life. I respect them on the level, I respect their peace.”
Nick also explained that although he’s not a private person, he respects and allows the people in his life to operate in privacy if that’s what they prefer. He added that he’s content with life because he’s experienced.
“I’ve had every type of relationship with a woman that a man could ever imagine. So now, I’m so content in the space and especially as a father,” Cannon said.
Every type of relationship includes marriage. Mariah Carey is the only woman to whom the entertainment industry giant has ever said ‘I do.’ That happened in 2008, then they welcomed their twins and his first set of children, Monroe and Moroccan, in 2011.
However, by 2014 the pair called it quits–reportedly finalizing their divorce in 2016. Since then, Cannon has welcomed ten other kids, but he maintains that Carey was the love of his life.
“Like the greatest? I mean, I always talk about that, and then it goes viral, and all her fans get mad at me,” Cannon said as interviewer Thembi name-dropped Mariah. “I was 12 years old with Mariah Carey pictures on my wall, and that becomes my wife. And the fact that she’s the coolest person I’ve ever met. I get a lot of this delightful disposition from her, like she’s just always happy, always doing for others no matter what’s happening in life. And I’m like, wow, a person can really operate like that and don’t allow negative energy into their space. When I found that out about her and saw how remarkable she was, like that woman is not human, she’s a gift from God. “
When it comes to welcoming Cannon name-bearers, Nick says it’s not calculated. There’s no special ceremony or anything of the sort.
“I don’t like to generalize. Every person that I have a child with we’ve had a real connection and from a solidarity space of years of understanding what this is going to be. We don’t take it lightly,” Nick said.
He also poked fun at the “crazy” internet rumors that he’s having all the kids for stem cell research or organs. Cannon insisted it’s “just like any other family.”
“I respect the neutral, traditional family but to me the operation, I’m just being the best father I can possibly be. And the mothers, they the ones in control, not me,” Cannon said. “However, they choose to live their life all I can do is be supportive.”
As for how he plans to split his assets among 12 kids, Nick says they have to “show and prove.”
“The dope thing about my kids is there’s nothing in this world that they can’t do or have access to because I can make it happen.”
