Nick Cannon Reacts to Viral Bone Marrow Conspiracy Theory
Nick Cannon is taking the internet’s latest conspiracy theory about his famously large family in stride, responding with humor instead of shutting it down.
The television host and entertainment executive reshared a viral clip suggesting he’s intentionally fathered so many children so he could always have a pool of compatible bone marrow in case his lupus ever requires it. Rather than dismissing the claim, Cannon leaned into the joke, reposting the video on Instagram with a simple caption: “They’re on to me…”
Since being diagnosed with lupus in 2012, the Wild ‘N Out creator has spoken openly about managing the autoimmune condition while navigating life as a father of a large family.
Nick Cannon is currently the father of 12 children with six different women, including twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey, as well as children with Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Bre Tiesi, LaNisha Cole, and Alyssa Scott.
While Cannon clearly treated the viral conspiracy theory as a joke, it does touch on a real area of medical science. According to the Journal of Immunology Research, in rare and severe cases of lupus that do not respond to standard treatments, doctors have explored bone marrow stem cell transplants to help rebuild a patient’s immune system.
However, these procedures are considered highly experimental and are typically reserved for extreme cases. They are also not part of routine lupus treatment, and importantly, they involve the patient’s own stem cells rather than sourcing bone marrow from children, as the rumor suggested.
Cannon has previously spoken about the realities of living with lupus and the difficult health challenges his family has faced. In 2021, he and Alyssa Scott lost their five-month-old son, Zen, after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The couple chose not to pursue chemotherapy, instead prioritizing comfort and quality of life during his final months.
“We were having quality-of-life conversations,” Cannon previously said. “We could have had that existence where he would’ve had to live in the hospital, hooked up to machines, for the rest of the time.”
He explained that he didn’t want his son “to suffer,” choosing instead to spend Zen’s remaining months focusing on milestones, love, and creating memories together.
Cannon recently paid tribute to Zen once more with a beachside celebration of life, sharing photos of family members dressed in white alongside portraits of his late son. “Zen’s Light will forever shine in our hearts,” he wrote. “We love you my son.”
