The TV mogul says the rapper crossed a line with his then-wife Mariah Carey, and he isn’t apologizing for how he responded.
Nick Cannon has worn plenty of hats over the past three decades, from sketch comedian and talk show host to rapper and television producer. But during a new podcast appearance, he made clear that one role still shapes how he views one of the messiest chapters of his public life: defender of Mariah Carey.
Cannon revisited his long-running feud with Eminem on the latest episode of On Par With Maury Povich, released Monday, Nov. 9. More than 15 years after the dispute first flared, the Wild ‘N Out creator said he would do whatever it took to protect his former wife.
Cannon Opens Up on Maury Povich’s Podcast
Cannon and Carey had been married for about a year when Eminem took aim at both of them on his 2009 track Bagpipes From Baghdad. Speaking with Povich, Cannon framed his response as a matter of principle. In his view, the rapper had disrespected his wife, and no man in his position should be expected to stay silent.
He also offered his own read on what drove the Detroit rapper. Cannon said he believed Eminem and Carey had only ever shared a professional connection, one Eminem later portrayed as something more personal. That history predated Cannon’s own relationship with the singer, and by the time the couple wed, he said, Eminem still seemed to be nursing hurt feelings.
Cannon said he simply could not let the comments stand. He described the moment as a test of his commitment, saying he felt obligated to defend his wife’s dignity and fight for the love they were building together.
Where the Feud Really Started
The tension between Eminem and Carey began years before Cannon entered the picture. In the early 2000s, Eminem claimed he and the singer had a brief romance and referenced her in several songs, including Superman. Carey denied any relationship ever took place and was widely believed to have answered him on her 2002 song Clown.
The rapper revived the feud in 2006 with a verse that compared his critics to Carey and accused them all of lying, using far saltier language. By then, the back-and-forth had become one of the most talked-about celebrity disputes spanning pop and hip-hop.
A Grudge That Outlasted the Marriage
When Bagpipes From Baghdad dropped, Cannon fired back with a blog post that has since been deleted. The couple later welcomed twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011, before their marriage ended in a divorce finalized in 2016.
Even the split didn’t close the chapter. In December 2019, three years after the divorce, Cannon released a string of diss records aimed squarely at Eminem, including The Invitation, Pray for Him and Canceled: The Invitation. The tracks reignited a rivalry many fans assumed had gone quiet and showed just how personally Cannon had taken the original slight.
Why Cannon’s Stance Still Resonates
For many fans, especially those who grew up watching Cannon on All That and in Drumline, his comments land as more than celebrity gossip. They reflect a familiar, old-school code about loyalty: that a partner’s reputation is worth defending, even when the fight plays out in public and the opponent is one of the best-selling rappers of all time.
What stands out most is that Cannon’s protectiveness hasn’t faded with the marriage. He and Carey continue to co-parent their twins, and he has spoken fondly of her in interviews over the years. His latest remarks suggest that, in his mind, standing up for the mother of his children was never tied to whether they stayed together.
It also offers a window into how Cannon views his own legacy. Long before he became known for his sprawling family and his television empire, he was a young husband who believed some lines should never be crossed, and nearly two decades later, he still stands by that.
Whether Eminem, who has largely let his music do the talking in past disputes, will answer this latest reflection remains to be seen. For now, Cannon appears content to let his words, and his loyalty, speak for themselves.
Source: The Breakfast Club
