During an appearance on the Ray Daniels Presents podcast, Cannon revealed that being known as “the kid from Nickelodeon with Mariah Carey” began to affect him psychologically.
Cannon, who was 27 when he married Carey in 2008, admitted that while he didn’t care what others thought, he struggled with internalized stereotypes about masculinity and gender roles.
Recalling the lifestyle, he experienced while married to Carey, he shared, “I got really comfortable in it. She’s got islands; I’m waking up at noon with steaks on a platter.”
But as they welcomed twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011, Cannon said his feelings of insecurity grew, especially regarding his place in their family dynamic. “When you have children, and the hierarchy of man stuff is like… ‘Wait, I’m carrying the diaper bag,’” he joked. “She’s rocking it as the Alpha. I’m just not that guy.”
Cannon praised Carey as “understanding” and “evolved,” acknowledging her support during his health battles, yet admitting that his insecurities affected his career. He questioned whether his position as a chairman at Nickelodeon and a potential album with Island Def Jam—Carey’s label at the time—were linked to his wife’s connections.
“I was wearing suits every day to prove I’m a man,” he shared, adding that being alongside such an established star sometimes left him feeling sidelined. In hindsight, Cannon, who has since fathered 12 children and built a successful career with shows like Wild ‘n Out and The Masked Singer, reflected that his health struggles ultimately gave him clarity.
Cannon, now 44, built a substantial entertainment empire, generating about $100 million annually, while Carey, 55, remains one of the world’s top-selling artists. Cannon’s story echoes a broader theme highlighted in Jenna Birch’s The Love Gap, where men claim to seek ambitious partners but sometimes feel challenged by their success.
