Nick Cannon Gets Candid About His Hollywood Past, Life as a Father of 12 and Plans for the Future

Nick Cannon just might be the busiest man in Hollywood. He’s a TV and podcast host, radio personality, comedian, rapper and actor. He’s also a dad of 12 with six different women. “It’s challenging,” Cannon, 45, tells Us of his hectic schedule, which also includes exercising twice a day to manage his lupus, the autoimmune disease he was diagnosed with in 2012. “I’m in Alabama doing a promo run for Wild ’N Out, and last night I was at a parent-teacher conference for my son and my daughter, which was happening at the exact same time. And I had just come from guitar lessons with my 4-year-old,” he says. “I don’t know how I do it, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Cannon is currently taking Wild ’N Out back on the road, filming new episodes of the groundbreaking MTV improv series he created in 2005 — which gave an early platform to comedy giants like Kevin Hart and Pete Davidson — at arenas across the country. “There’s nothing like an arena full of people,” he says. “Now it’s like Wild ’N Out versus your city, and every city brings its competitive nature.”

He’s also gearing up for a more intimate project: the winter debut of his Netflix docuseries, which will offer an unprecedented look inside his unconventional family life and relationships with the mothers of his children. Cannon shares twins Moroccan and Monroe, 15, with ex-wife Mariah Carey; sons Golden, 9, and Rise, 4, and daughter Powerful, 5, with Brittany Bell; twin boys Zion and Zillion, 5, and daughter Beautiful, 3, with Abby De La Rosa; son Legendary, 4, with Bre Tiesi; and daughter Onyx, 4, with LaNisha Cole. He also has daughter Halo, 3, and son Zen, who passed away in 2021, with Alyssa Scott.) Is he nervous for it to come out? “Yes,” he admits. “It’s going to be a lot.”

Something tells Us this modern-day Renaissance man can handle it. Here, Cannon gets candid about growing up in Hollywood, whether he’ll ever settle down and the joyful, chaotic balancing act of fatherhood.

Can you believe it’s been 21 years since Wild ’N Out debuted?

It can legally drink.

Tell Us more about the Wild ’N Out: Live Tour ’26. It’s gonna be all the people you love from the original cast, from DC Young Fly to Justina Valentine. At the same time, I’m super excited [to introduce] new young people coming from all walks [of life] — streamers, content creators, comedians and artists. Wild ’N Out has always gotten credit for discovering young talent in the comedy space, but it’s also been a platform for people like Kanye [West] and Lil Wayne. When the show first dropped in the early 2000s, it was one of the few places where hip-hop artists were able to launch and perform. I’m trying to get back to those roots. My next goal is to find the next music superstar.

A lot of people got their start on the show. How does that feel?

I take no credit for any of their gifts. I just say I was able to create a platform that allowed people to step into the industry and take the reins. I consider Wild ’N Out like the public pool — it’s where everybody learns to swim.

You were 24 when Wild ’N Out started. How much have you changed since then?

I’m the same person. It’s probably sad, but I still have that same 24-year-old optimism and energy. I envy his knees more than anything because I [used to be able to] jump off the stage and run and do all those things. They don’t tell you that when you get to your 40s, your knees give out.

Did you imagine then that the show would still be around today?

I was just trying to give my friends jobs. I was trying to make sure Kevin Hart could pay his rent. I had no idea it would grow to this magnitude. My new goal is to have the brand get into the education space and tap into the public school systems all the way to the collegiate [level], giving people theater programs. I want to give people in the urban community the opportunity to learn improv and staging.

What are some of your most memorable moments from the show?

It’s the people who have blessed the stage. It’s the Snoop Doggs of the world… and then watching young comedians go from fresh new faces to superstars has always been the coolest thing to witness.

Do you feel like anyone went too far?

The Chrissy Teigen episode [season 5, episode 6]. John Legend is a dear friend, and she came on and she was truly wilding out. Karlous Miller might’ve taken it a little too far [Miller joked that Teigen had a camel toe and propositioned her for sex], but it was great content and still one of our classic episodes.

In the era of cancel culture, are there lines you can’t cross now?

I give the same advice [to the younger generation] that I always have: Be fearless. Back then, it was easier because you didn’t have the instant critique with social media. If it hit, it hit. But I think we’re getting back to that energy. If your heart is in the right place, being fearless isn’t a burden. It’s a gift.

Are you scared of being canceled?

I feel like I get canceled like every week. I lean into it. I’m super outspoken. When everybody’s zigging, I’m always zagging, and I’m always playing the angel’s advocate. I want people to speak freely and have discourse. I get canceled, but then [people] forgive me because they know I’m not trying to offend anybody. I’m always gonna ask questions, though.

Via: US Weekly