During a recent podcast appearance, Cannon discussed the challenges he faced during his marriage to Mariah Carey. Reflecting on their relationship, he revealed that doubts about his own identity emerged following their wedding in 2008.
Despite acknowledging that public opinion didn’t matter to him, he admitted to grappling with personal questions about who he was the pressures of their high-profile relationship. “People will love you one day and hate you the next,” Cannon stated. He mentioned that while he wasn’t concerned about outside perceptions, he frequently questioned, “Who am I?”
Cannon discusses the dynamics of masculinity in their family after the birth of their twins
He noted, “I got married in my 20s, to the biggest star in the world.” This realization highlighted the stark differences in their careers, as he illustrated his feelings of inadequacy by comparing their trajectories: “My trajectory was here,” he said, pointing down, “and hers — she’s already in a different stratosphere.”
Cannon expressed that he found it difficult to establish his identity apart from Carey, despite feeling comfortable in their life together. He humorously recalled waking up to a lifestyle where people catered to him, saying, “she’s got islands and I’m waking up at noon with people bringing me steaks on a platter.”
He recalled lying awake at night, questioning his identity within their relationship, wondering, “Is this who I am? Am I Mariah’s man?” He acknowledged that while there was nothing wrong with that role, it led him to struggle with feelings about his masculinity and the dynamics of their family, particularly after the birth of their twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in April 2011.
Cannon recalled moments of uncertainty, describing himself as carrying a purse and the diaper bag while recognizing Carey’s dominant role as the alpha in their family dynamic. He agreed with the podcast host who remarked on Carey’s deserving status, saying, “I believe she needs a dude like that. I’m just not that dude.”
The couple’s romance began in early 2008 when Cannon appeared in Carey’s music video for “Bye Bye.” Just a few months later, they tied the knot in a secret ceremony in May 2008. However, after six years of marriage, they announced their divorce in 2014.
Both Cannon and Carey have openly discussed their relationship over the years. In 2020, Carey published her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, where she reflected on their whirlwind marriage and what initially attracted her to him. “He was a good guy. He was faith-based. He was ambitious,” she reminisced, acknowledging his understanding of the entertainment industry.
Carey also shared her belief that their marriage could have survived had they navigated their egos and emotions better, leading to “many billable lawyer hours.” She emphasized their commitment to maintaining a family unit, stating, “We will always be family, and we make it work.”
Earlier this year, Cannon expressed to E! News, “We belong together,” revealing he would “absolutely” consider reconciling with Carey, calling it “stupid” not to. Yet, he humorously remarked, “She don’t want me,” later clarifying to PEOPLE that “she’s moved on from my crazy antics.”
Since their separation, Carey has been involved in several long-term relationships, while Cannon has expanded his family, welcoming ten additional children with various partners.
