Nick Cannon, the father of 12 children with multiple women, recently admitted that he couldn’t recall the names of all his kids. He left people stunned questioning is he involved in each of his kids lives.
The Forgetful Momen
In the interview, host Howard Stern challenged Cannon to name all of his children, which led to an awkward and humorous moment. Cannon confidently began listing the names of his children but eventually stumbled and forgot one—his daughter Onyx Ice Cole, whom he shares with model LaNisha Cole. Stern teased him by saying, “You left out Onyx!” to which Cannon replied, “Ah, no!” and added, “You threw me off because I was going in order!”
This particular moment raised eyebrows because Cannon had previously spoken about being an attentive and hands-on father. Forgetting the name of one of his children, particularly the only child he has with Cole, sparked online criticism and concern about how involved he is in each of his kids’ lives.
Cannon’s Expanding Family
Nick Cannon’s journey into fatherhood has been both prolific and highly publicized. He shares twins Monroe and Moroccan with his ex-wife Mariah Carey. He also has three children with Brittany Bell: Golden, Powerful, and Rise. Abby De La Rosa is the mother of his twins Zion and Zillion and their daughter Beautiful Zeppelin. He fathered Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi, Onyx with LaNisha Cole, and two children with Alyssa Scott—Zen, who tragically passed away at five months old, and their daughter Halo. Despite the wide media attention and Cannon’s public discussions about family, many critics argue that having children across six different women makes it difficult for him to maintain deep, quality relationships with each child.
Public Criticism and Online Reactions
Cannon’s inability to name all 12 children during the interview immediately went viral. Social media was flooded with reactions ranging from amusement to serious critique. Many users expressed concern that his failure to name Onyx, who already faces a different dynamic as the only child from her mother, might signal a lack of equal attention or presence. Others pointed out that it was unrealistic to expect someone to be a fully engaged parent to 12 kids living in different households, even with the best intentions. The incident further highlighted the challenges that come with such a large, complex family dynamic.
Cannon’s Response and Parenting Philosophy
Cannon has often defended his parenting style, stating that he strives to be there for each of his children in meaningful ways. He has spoken about creating individual schedules and trying to spend one-on-one time with each child. He also explained that he avoids traditional schooling in favor of alternative educational paths that allow more flexibility and family involvement. Nonetheless, critics argue that emotional presence is just as crucial as physical presence, and even Cannon himself has admitted that “time is the biggest currency” when it comes to parenting.
Conclusion
While Nick Cannon’s fatherhood journey is undeniably unique, moments like his recent name-lapse shine a light on the difficulties of balancing love, time, and attention among many children in different homes. As he continues to expand his family, questions about his capacity to be a present and consistent father are likely to remain in the public spotlight.
