Nick Cannon has landed in hot water after opening up about the different dating rules he has for his first set of twins with Mariah Carey.
The actor and TV host recently revealed that while his son, Moroccan, is allowed to date, his daughter, Monroe, is not. Cannon said the rule comes from a place of protection, claiming he wants to shield his daughter from potentially harmful men.
However, his explanation did not sit well with many online accusing him of applying a double standard and reinforcing a misogynistic approach to parenting.
Cannon has long been known as one of Hollywood’s more unconventional public figures, not just for his work in entertainment, but for his highly publicized personal life.
The actor and TV host is the father of 12 children with six women, with some of his kids born in the same year. However, while Cannon’s own dating history has often made headlines, his approach to parenting his first set of twins with Carey is now drawing criticism.
Speaking on a recent episode of “The TMZ Podcast,” Cannon revealed that he is comfortable with his 15-year-old son, Moroccan, dating, but does not allow his twin sister, Monroe, to do the same.
“There is a difference when parenting a son and then when parenting a daughter. I am more protective of my daughter because there’s things out there that I have to protect my daughter from,” Cannon said.
Cannon Worries About His Daughter Being Abused On A Date
Despite the host calling him out on his double standard, Cannon only doubled down on his stance, but explains that his fear is tied to situations like his daughter suffering violence at the hands of her date.
“My son isn’t calling me that, Dad, she hit me,” the comedian said in a dramatic high voice. “He’s not doing that. But if someone puts their hands on my daughter. I’m going to jail. I’m doing 25 to life if somebody puts their hands on my daughter.”
He went on to say that it is his “worst nightmare” for his daughter to ever be in such a situation, as he isn’t changing his mind on how he would react to her abuser.
Nick Cannon Said His Daughter Can Only Go On Dates With A Chaperone
When asked at what age Monroe would be allowed to date, Cannon appeared hesitant and struggled to give a clear answer before explaining that they had reached an agreement.
According to Cannon, he told his daughter that if she could explain what usually happens on dates, he would consider allowing her to go. Even then, the actor said he would feel more comfortable if her brother accompanied her.
Unsatisfied with his response, the host pressed him further, asking whether 16 would be an appropriate age for Monroe to start dating.
The “American Son” star once again avoided giving a direct answer, but said he is already preparing for that stage and has started talking with her about the possibility of dating when she gets to college.
The Actor Faces Backlash Over Dating Double Standard
Cannon’s comments quickly sparked backlash online, with many accusing him of applying a double standard in the way he is parenting his twins.
One user described his stance as “misogynistic b-llshit,” while another called it a “double standard at its finest.”
Cannon’s highly publicized personal life and history of multiple relationships also became part of the criticism, with some arguing that he was not the best person to be offering parenting advice publicly.
“Nick Cannon is one of the very last people who should be giving parenting advice on a podcast. He has 12 kids with 6 different women. He’s gross,” one user wrote.
Nick Cannon Explained Why He Has So Many Kids
Over the years, Cannon has faced plenty of questions about his growing family, from whether he uses birth control to whether he plans to have more children. He has also dealt with criticism, labeling him a deadbeat father, as well as speculation about whether he would ever consider getting a vasectomy.
Most recently, Cannon addressed the subject in a 2025 cover story with Vulture, where he admitted that having so many children was not exactly planned.
“It was also a little bit of, like, ‘OK, God, how did I have five kids in one year?’” he told the publication, referencing 2022, when he welcomed five children with different women. “Probably careless activity.”
