Nick Cannon’s Insightful Revelation on Parenthood and Trauma

In a profound discussion with The Breakfast Club, entertainer Nick Cannon opened up about the motivations behind his decisions to father 12 children with six different women. The conversation provided Cannon an opportunity to reflect on how his past experiences, especially his high-profile divorce from Mariah Carey, may have influenced his approach to relationships and fatherhood.

During the interview, co-host Charlamagne Tha God prompted Cannon to consider whether his expansive family was a subconscious attempt to cope with unresolved issues. Cannon acknowledged this possibility, stating, “I’m learning that now, and it wasn’t like I was acting out. It was more of being careless, being frivolous with my process, because I could do it, because I had the money, because I had the access to whoever and however I wanted to move.”

He continued to explain that his actions were not malicious but lacked a mature consideration of the consequences. “Opposed to doing a mature thing and saying, ‘Hey, well, it probably makes more sense to do this.’ And then, obviously, life happens as well. So it wasn’t like, ‘Well, I’m gonna go have 12 kids.’ It was more about, like, ‘Yo, I’mma just live life and have fun and whatever happens, happens, I can handle it,’” Cannon shared.

Reflecting on his personal growth, Cannon, nearing his mid-forties, expressed some regrets about his hasty decisions. “Being almost 45 now, I can sit back and be like, ‘If I would have thought the process through a little bit more and took time to actually do the inner work, things might’ve been a little different in certain scenarios.’

When asked by co-host Loren Lorosa whether he would still choose to have 12 children knowing what he knows now, Cannon was uncertain. He emphasized that each of his children was born from love and meaningful relationships but admitted that deeper self-reflection post-divorce might have altered his path.

Moreover, Cannon has publicly discussed his approach to relationships, emphasizing his belief in consensual non-monogamy. His journey also includes grappling with mental health, as he was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder in 2024, a revelation that has significantly impacted his view of self and relationships.

For those interested in the full context of Cannon’s candid conversation, the episode is available for viewing: