On Thanksgiving, popular television host Nick Cannon got candid with the world when he opened up about receiving a “shocking” mental health diagnosis, which he stated he is putting a lot of effort toward better understanding, all the while raising 12 children with multiple women. That’s a lot of mouths to feed. No wonder the guy is constantly trying to stay busy. Imagine how hard it would be to have a family that large if you weren’t a millionaire celebrity. Yikes.
Cannon, host of “Wild N Out,” spoke with People Magazine over the Thanksgiving holiday, revealing that a doctor recently gave him a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, which is a lifelong mental illness that can leave its suffers with an exaggerated sense of self-importance and an insatiable appetite for the praise of others. Cannon, who is 44, told the outlet that he received the diagnosis from Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a psychologist who recently made an appearance on his podcast.
According to Trending Politics News, “He claims his ‘research’ into his condition will improve his ability to be a better father, a role he knows matters more than ever during the holiday season.”
“I still don’t understand it all the way, but I kind of always wanted to get tested for it. I did a bunch of tests,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. “I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. Even as a kid it was dyslexia, but just knowing that I’m just a neurodivergent individual, I kind of always knew.”
Giving his condition a name will also help Cannon seek out treatment, he added. “I feel like there’s so many labels out there, but it’s like, to be able to embrace it and say, ‘Look, I’m healing. I need help. Show me.’ I just embrace mental health and therapy in such a strong way. To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too.”
A 2024 study by Harvard University found that childhood factors likely play a role in whether someone suffers from the disorder, known as NPD. Excessive praise or equal measures of criticism may both contribute to the mental health stress that causes the onset of NPD, and other mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, or other personality disorders often intertwine to influence its growth. It’s believed that up to five percent of the population experiences a demonstrable level of narcissistic personality disorder.
In addition to being globally known as a TV host, actor, and musical artist, Cannon has earned recognition for his large family. The “Drumline” star counts 12 children across different mothers stretching back to 2011. Thanksgiving is a “very busy time” for him these days, Cannon joked, adding that he spreads his time between multiple meals and definitely doesn’t go hungry. “Some people got good sweet potato pie, some people got amazing fried turkey,” he explained. “So I know every house that needs to have the things that I really like.”
What’s commendable about Cannon here is that he’s trying to do something about his mental health. He’s not just accepting his situation, but doing what he can to improve it. Not just for his sake, but that of his children as well. Here’s to hoping he’s successful.