Nick Cannon Calls Having 12 Kids a “Trauma Response”

Nick Cannon has opened up about the personal reasons behind his decision to have 12 children with six different women, describing it as a “trauma response” following his 2016 divorce from singer Mariah Carey.

Speaking in a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, Cannon said he struggled emotionally after the end of his marriage and did not immediately seek therapy or address his feelings in a healthy way. Instead, he said he avoided dealing with the pain and made impulsive life choices.

“I was being careless and frivolous,” Cannon said, explaining that his financial success allowed him to live without many limitations. He added that, at the time, he focused on “just living life and having fun,” without fully considering the long-term impact of his actions.

Cannon acknowledged that he now regrets not addressing his emotional struggles earlier. “Now, you’re leaving trauma every step of the way instead of fixing it from its origin,” he said.

The television host and entertainer also emphasized that he did not intentionally plan to have a large number of children. He said his lifestyle and mindset at the time led to the situation, rather than a deliberate decision.

Today, Cannon said he is taking steps to manage his non-traditional family structure more responsibly. He revealed that he participates in therapy, both individually and with some of his children and their mothers, to support healthy relationships.

Cannon currently has 12 children. He shares twins Moroccan and Monroe with Mariah Carey. He has three children with Brittany Bell: Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen, and Rise Messiah. With Abby De La Rosa, he has twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, as well as a daughter, Beautiful Zeppelin. He shares two children with Alyssa Scott: Zen, who died in 2021, and Halo Marie. He also has a son, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi, and a daughter, Onyx Ice Cole, with LaNisha Cole.

While Cannon recently said he plans to “press hold” on having more children due to his schedule and finances, he has not ruled out expanding his family in the future.

Mariah Carey also commented on their co-parenting relationship during a recent appearance on CBS Mornings. She suggested Cannon lives in “his own world,” but indicated that they continue to work together to raise their 14-year-old twins.