Nick Cannon recently opened up about what it was like to be married to the “biggest star in the world” in his 20s, offering insights on his union with Mariah Carey in respect to creating his own identity.
In an October 24th interview, the Drumline star told Ray Daniels Presents that he started to question who he was amid his romance with the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” songstress, despite keeping exterior opinions to a minimum.
“I didn’t actually really care what the world thought because the perception, you know, that is what it is. People are going to love you one day, hate you the next day. I could care less about that. … But going to myself with that pressure of, ‘Who am I?’ I got married in my 20s, you know what I mean? To the biggest star in the world.”
As Carey’s success increased exponentially, Cannon began to question his masculinity and the role he played in their marriage.
“I would lay up at night thinking, like, ‘Is this who I am? Am I Mariah’s man? Is that what my life is supposed to be?’ There’s nothing wrong with it. I’m carrying a purse, the diaper bag and, you know, I’m standing on the corner like, ‘Wait…she’s rocking being the alpha.’ She deserves it.”
The Wild ‘n Out standout concluded:
“I believe she needs a dude like that. I’m just not that dude.”
According to People, the former couple were first linked in 2008 and secretly tied the knot a few months later (Cannon then 27 and Carey 39). The “Fantasy” artist went on to conceive twins Moroccan and Monroe in April 2011, just three years before she and Cannon decided to call it quits.
Watch the full interview below and check out Ray Daniels Presents on iHeartRadio.