In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, father-of-12 Nick Cannon stated that he is tired of being characterized as a “deadbeat dad” and painted as a villain for having many children with six different moms, according to HuffPost.
The actor, rapper, and TV personality had twins with Mariah Carey, his ex-wife. He also has six children with model Brittany Bell and former radio host Abby De La Rosa. He also has a son with model Bre Tiesi and a daughter with LaNisha Cole. Alyssa Scott, a model, gave birth to his seventh kid, Zen, in 2021; however, the baby died a few months later. Scott and Cannon, on the other hand, had their second child, a girl, last year.
“Right now the narrative is, ‘He has a bunch of kids.’ But I’m really at a place now where I don’t care what people know. I’d rather just operate. It’s more about really being a good person instead of telling people you’re a good person,” Cannon said.
The 42-year-old also shut down rumors about him not being there for all his children. “I hear all the time: ‘You can’t be present for all those children.’ So, therefore, I get this deadbeat dad title,” he said.
The “Drumline” actor said all his kids are well-taken care of as he makes around $100 million annually. He told the news outlet that featuring on “The Masked Singer” fetches him more than $20 million, adding that he also earns income from “The Daily Cannon” radio program, two sports bars, as well as other endeavors.
Despite the money he claims to be raking in, Cannon said being there for your children is the most important aspect of parenthood. “It’s not about what I do for you or what I say to you, it’s about how you feel when I’m with you,” he said. “If you feel loved when you see your dad, that’s what’s gonna resonate.”
