Nick Cannon has come under fire after revealing that he does not allow his daughter to date, while giving his son permission to do so.
The actor and TV host recently shared that his son, Moroccan, is allowed to date, but his daughter, Monroe, is not. Cannon explained that his decision comes from a place of protection, saying he wants to shield his daughter from potentially harmful men.
However, his explanation did not sit well with many online, who accused 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 figures, not only for his entertainment career but also for his highly publicized personal life. He is the father of 12 children with six women, with some of his children born in the same year.
While his own dating history has often made headlines, his approach to parenting his first set of twins with Mariah Carey is now drawing criticism.
Speaking on a recent episode of TMZ Podcast, Cannon said 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 are things out there that I have to protect her from,” Cannon said.
Despite the host challenging him on the apparent double standard, Cannon stood firm on his stance, explaining that his fears are tied to the possibility of his daughter experiencing harm or violence.
“My son isn’t calling me saying, ‘Dad, she hit me,’” the comedian said. “But if someone puts their hands on my daughter, I’m going to jail. I’m doing 25 to life.”
Nick Cannon added that it is his “worst nightmare” for his daughter to ever be in such a situation, making it clear that he is unlikely to change his position.
After the episode went viral on social media, many critics argued that his stance reflects a contradiction, with some suggesting he does not want his daughter to date someone like himself.
