Nick Cannon graces the cover of the latest issue of Variety, and in the issue he discusses his successes including Wild N’ Out and The Masked Singer, as well as his spirited activism around Black Lives Matter and the fight against systemic racism.
Another topic he touches upon extensively in the article is his ex-wife Mariah Carey, who is mother to Nick’s twins Moroccan Scott and Monroe, nine.
Cannon, 39, spoke candidly about his relationship with the music superstar, 50, to whom he was married to from 2008 to 2016.
Owning it: Nick Cannon graces the cover of the latest issue of Variety, and in the issue he discusses his successes, his spirited activism and his ex-wife Mariah Carey
‘I always used to say it worked so well because it was a healthy balance,’ Cannon said.
‘I had no problem falling back,’ he continued, referring to what it was like being with someone already so monstrously successful.
‘It was never a competition with me. It was like, “I’ll turn mine off so she can turn hers on.” I was comfortable in myself and who I was.’
And in spite of Mariah having somewhat of a diva-like reputation in the industry, Nick insists their union was relatively drama free.
Sweet fantasy: Cannon spoke candidly about his relationship with the music superstar, to whom he was married to from 2008 to 2016; Mariah seen here on YouTube recently
‘I can’t ever remember us having arguments and there being negative energy of “This isn’t working” and all of that stuff. We had very sensible conversations.’
In fact, even their seemingly whirlwind decision to get hitched in 2008, very soon after first meeting, was somewhat sensible.
‘We were both at this place where relationships really aren’t our thing but we like each other,’ Nick recalled.
‘We talked everything out. What if this and what if that. We talked about how much fun it would be if we just got married three weeks into knowing each other. It was more that whimsical fantasy idea of, let’s have as much fun as we possibly can and when it no longer feels like fun, when it feels like a task and a job, then we should amicably be able to move on.’
‘I can’t ever remember us having arguments and there being negative energy of “This isn’t working” and all of that stuff,’ Cannon said; Seen here earlier this month in New York at a rally
Lovebirds: Carey and Cannon met in 2008 and got hitched just weeks later; seen here in 2009
And that they did, when they split in 2014, before officially divorcing in 2016.
But of course, in the meantime they became parents to their adorable twins, one boy and one girl, which Nick said made everything even ‘more amazing’ at the time.
And now, the two remain close and amicable as they coparent their children.
‘It just made us say “Let’s co-exist for the betterment of our children,”‘ Cannon reflected.
From the heart: Like Nick, Mariah has been uber vocal on social media about her feelings pertaining to the killing of George Floyd and police brutality towards black people
Concerned father: Cannon and Carey have remained close to parent their twins, Moroccan and Monroe; The Masked Singer host seen here earlier this month on a radio show in which he said ‘My children fear police’
‘We’re doing whatever we can to make sure their upbringing is as healthy as can possibly be and that we’re as healthy as we can possibly be. And that’s where we are to this day.’
The former America’s Got Talent host reiterated that competing egos was never an issue between him and Mariah.
‘My ego outside the house was grand but in the house it was healthy. I was there to be in support of whatever she wanted to do,’ he said. ‘I mean, it’s Mariah Carey. How am I supposed to be? She’s one of the most talented women to ever [sic] this planet. I can’t hold a candle to that woman.’
‘We’re doing whatever we can to make sure their upbringing is as healthy as can possibly be and that we’re as healthy as we can possibly be. And that’s where we are to this day’; Nick and Mariah seen with their kids in 2018