Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@nickcannon
Topics: Nick Cannon, Celebrity, Parenting
Jess Hardiman
Nick Cannon has defended fathering 12 children with six different women, saying he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The 42-year-old TV presenter has become famous for his ever-expanding brood, having welcomed 12 kids over the past decade.
Cannon is dad to 11-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with Mariah Carey, and shares children Golden, Powerful Queen and Rise with Brittany Bell.
Then there’s twins Zion and Zillion and baby Beautiful, whose mum is Abby De La Rosa, along with Legendary Love and Onyx, who is co-parents with Bre Tiesi and LaNisha Cole, respectively.
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He has also fathered three-month-old Halo with Alyssa Scott, who was also mother to their late son Zen, who tragically died in December 2021.
But it seems Cannon has nothing but pride for his unusually large family, saying being a dad is his ‘number one’ priority in life.
Speaking to People, he said: "I believe that's what we're put on this planet here to do, is to guide and usher in your offspring.
"So fatherhood is my number one and first priority when I open my eyes, when I get up every morning.
"Career and work and all of that, take second."
Cannon said there are ‘a lot of narratives out there’ about him and his life that he’s ‘actually not even a part of’.
He continued: “I understand that my lifestyle isn't typical to society and can be viewed as unorthodox in some ways. But my goal in life is just to love my kids and be there for my kids and provide for them.
"Like I always say, I just love with abundance."
Cannon acknowledged how some people may not ‘understand’ his approach, but said it's simply the life he’s chosen.
“It’s the life that I’ve been given and I choose to live this way and love my family, love my kids,” he added.
Cannon also recently opened up about how his offspring impact his dating life.
Appearing on The Howard Stern Show last week, he said: "I'm not out there like that. I'm really trying to focus on myself and my children… my bandwidth doesn't even allow me to kind of be in that space."
The TV host went on to say that he maintains a 'healthy balance', explaining: "It sounds wild, but my main focus is either my children or work."
Cannon then discussed his decision in 2021 to be celibate, which actually did the opposite, as he actually welcomed more kids.
"One therapist told me I should be celibate - that didn't work, I had like more kids after that," he joked.
On the US radio show, Cannon was also pushed on whether he would have more kids, which he certainly was not ruling out.
He did say that he would be all in for starting a family with Taylor Swift, who has been in the news over the Easter weekend with reports she has split up with long-time partner Joe Alwyn.
Speaking on the potential of having children with the Midnights singer, Cannon said: "I'm all in. First of all, she's an amazing songwriter.
"What I do love about Taylor Swift is that she has been so vulnerable and open with all of her music.
"Me and Taylor’s numbers are very similar when we’re talking about being in these streets. So, I think she would relate to me very well."