Cannon’s Balls!
Nick lets it all hang out while standing on fertile grounds.
By Tracie Reddick
Jerry Springer put “baby daddies” on the map with his infamous paternity tests.
But, another talk show host, Nick Cannon, epitomizes the phrase.
Nick, 42, has become a controversial father figure, embodying the Mandingo myth while defying the deadbeat dad stereotype.
Both notions are rooted in the pending birth of his 12th child — well, 13 if you include Ken Jeong who calls him daddy.
Some folks argue Nick’s wildin’ out in his courtships, thus reinforcing statistics surrounding the 57.6 percent of black children growing up in fatherless homes.
Handsome, charming and rich, it’s easy to understand why women find Nick appealing.
But, one thing’s for sure, he’s not an absentee dad.
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Raised by his grandfather, he escaped his impoverished background, proving he’s all that with a net worth of $20 million.
The Masked Singer host pays over $3 million a year in child support and has a hands-on role in all his children’s lives.
“I definitely spend a lot more on my children annually,” he said in a published report. “Every day, I just wake up excited as a father (and) … so excited about all my kids.”
Still, folks are fascinated by his family dynamic, which is widening the conversations of how families are defined.
Some children have two dads. Nick has six baby mamas.
Polyamorous relationships are part of black folks DNA considering many African chiefs have a bunch of children from multiple wives.
Nick did put a ring on Mariah Carey’s finger, which doesn’t appear to be a point of contention with the other mamas who have steered clear of the tabloid drama.
Although his family circle may be unconventional, it does seems to work.
Plus, it’s a great example of how love should be the determining factor when it comes to family structure.
“I’ve seen where people believe a traditional household works and there’s a lot of toxicity in that setting,” Nick concludes. “It’s not about what society decides is right. It’s like, what makes it right for you.”
Amen.
