Father of 12 Nick Cannon shares why he doesn't believe in the term co-parenting
Topics: Nick Cannon, Parenting, Celebrity
Dan Seddon
Featured Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
Topics: Nick Cannon, Parenting, Celebrity
Father of a dozen kids Nick Cannon is categorically not a fan of the term 'co-parenting'.
In the past 14 years, the TV presenter and sometime rapper has welcomed 12 children by six separate women: ex-wife Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Alyssa Scott, Abby De La Rosa, Bre Tiesi and LaNisha Cole.
They're named Monroe, Moroccan, Golden, Powerful, Zion, Zillion, Zen, Legendary Love, Onyx, Rise, Beautiful, and Halo.
Speaking on a recent episode of his podcast Nick Cannon @ Night, the 44-year-old felt compelled to answer one listener's question about 'blended families' posted on social media site X.
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It read: "Curious to hear Nick's perspective on managing multiple co-parenting relationships while dating. It's a unique situation that could offer some real insights for blended families."
Cannon, who admitted to attending one of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' parties when he was 16, was keen to point out: "When you start throwing labels on things, I think it does more harm than help and can get very dangerous, because then everybody else has a preconceived notion of what you're doing.
"I haven't figured it out yet. I haven't gotten it all the way right. But also to your point, if I just step into every situation with respect and compassion and individuality. That's the other thing I always do with anyone I'm involved with in my life."
Focussing on the six mothers of his children, Cannon claimed he doesn't 'bunch them together' in conversation.
"I really try my hardest not to be like, 'Oh yeah, my baby mamas', you know, unless I'm telling a joke or something like that, but no one wants to be grouped into anything," he said.
"Everyone wants to be treated like an individual with respect and compassion."
A couple of years ago, Cannon discussed his views surrounding fatherhood with Dr. Laura Berman.
When the professional doc suggested he resembled the religious figure Abraham, he replied: "I've never heard that clarity, but I've heard 'Yo, you're going to be a father of many. You're a great influence, your lineage, your offspring are going to do great things.'"
She asked whether he was keen to father more children in the future too. "Only God can let me know when I'm done," he commented on The Language of Love with Dr. Laura Berman podcast.
"As much as I was open to every single child that I have, I can't say the majority of them were planned," was his caveat. "If you would have told me in 2012 when I was still married and just diagnosed with Lupus that 10 years from now... that I would have 12 children, I would be like f**k out of here! There's no way in the world that I would ever plan that."
Cannon was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease Lupus nephritis in 2012, which affects his kidneys.
Early complications with the disease included kidney failure and blood clots in his lungs, while the US star has since made adjustments to his diet and sleeping habits to combat symptoms.