At this point, it's common knowledge that host and actor Nick Cannon has a lot of children—12 of them, to be exact. And the mother of one of his children claimed on television that the amount of kids he's fathered could get him a deal on child support. Bre Tiesi, with whom Cannon shares nearly one-year-old son Legendary Love Cannon, joined the cast of the realty-themed reality show Selling Sunset for the recently released sixth season. On one episode of the Netflix hit, Tiesi told another cast member that Cannon might not have to pay child support for all of his children, simply because there are so many of them.
If that sounds far-fetched, that's because it is. Read on to find out what Tiesi said about the legal obligations of the father of her child, how her own lawyer corrected her, and what Cannon himself has said about providing for his kids.
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Tiesi made a surprising claim about child support.
Courtesy of NetflixAs reported by People, during an Season 6 episode of Selling Sunset, Tiesi was asked by castmate Amanza Smith if it's true that a person doesn't have to pay child support if they have 10 or more children.
"That's true," Tiesi responded. "The way it works is like, after 10, the court can basically say he can't afford to pay child support." But, she added that because Cannon is famous and wealthy, it might not apply to him. "Or because he is who he is, they could say, 'We know you can afford X amount for each household.'"
Tiesi's lawyer refuted her claim.
Courtesy of NetflixTiesi's lawyer, Neama Rahmani, spoke out publicly after the episode was released to correct Tiesi's assumption.
"Nick, or any father, is obligated to pay child support under California law regardless of the number of children he has," Rahmani told People. "Courts consider the parents' income, the cost of child care, and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. Judges do not cap child support after a certain number of kids."
Rahmani addressed his client in an interview with Us Weekly, saying, "Bre, you should know better!" He added, "That is absolutely not true. There’s no cap on child support based on the number of children. So, to the extent that Nick Cannon can have babies, he owes child support for those babies under California law.”
Cannon doesn't want courts involved in that part of his life.
taniavolobueva / ShutterstockDuring a November 2022 interview with The Neighborhood Talk, Cannon was asked to comment on a report from The Sun that he has to pay $3 million in child support per year.
"I definitely spend a lot more than that on my children annually," Cannon said. But, he added that it's not technically court-ordered child support. "I don't plan to ever have to participate in the governmental system of child," he explained.
Similarly, Page Six reported that in a May 2023 interview with The Jason Lee Podcast, Cannon said that the mothers of his children can have "whatever they want, whatever they ask for." He added, "My money is they money, they money is my money … My account is their account, and there’s a lot in there, so we ain’t gon’ run out."
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He's said he's still be labeled a "deadbeat dad."
Kathy Hutchins / ShutterstockCannon also opened up about his financial situation in a May 2023 Los Angeles Times profile. Asked about the $3 million child support claim, he said, "That’s not a lot of money ... When you think about my lifestyle, I have to generate at least $100 million a year."
He explained that he makes a lot of money because of all of the gigs he has, including hosting the TV shows The Masked Singer and Wild 'N Out—the latter of which he created and also executive produces—hosting a radio show, acting, producing, and co-owning a restaurant.
In addition to supporting them financially, Cannon said that he's involved in all of his children's lives. "I’ve been villainized," he said. "I hear all the time: 'You can’t be present for all those children.' So therefore I get this deadbeat dad title."
Cannon has 12 kids with six women.
Tinseltown / ShutterstockCannon has 12 children who range in age from 6 months to 12 years old. In addition to Legendary with Tiesi: He welcomed 12-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He shares six-year-old Golden Sagon, two-year-old Powerful Queen, and nine-month-old Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell. Cannon and Abby De La Rosa share nearly two-year-old twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and seven-month-old Beautiful Zeppelin. Cannon welcomed Zen, who died at five months old of brain cancer in 2021, with Alyssa Scott. Cannon and Scott also share six-month-old Halo Marie. Finally (for now), Cannon and LaNisha Cole welcomed nine-month-old Onyx Ice Cole.
