Nick Cannon on talk show, overcoming backlash
LOS ANGELES – When Nick Cannon faced heavy criticism for his anti-semitic remarks last year, he initially thought about stepping away from his lucrative TV host and producer career for good.
Cannon fell into a deep depression that felt like he was “stuck in quicksand” after seeing people who he called friends ridicule him on social media. He met with a prominent rabbi, issued an apology to the Jewish community for his anti-semitic theories expressed on his podcast, but Viacomcbs had already severed ties with the host and producer of the longstanding “Wild ’n Out” show on VH1.
Fox kept its relationship with Cannon as the host of “The Masked Singer,” but he felt like walking away from his lucrative career would be less stressful. He leaned toward quitting until he learned about the death of his friend-rapper Ryan Bowers, who killed himself last year after struggling with his own mental health.
Ultimately, Cannon realized he could use his platform to help people overcome adversity. Now, he’s looking to rebound with his nationally syndicated daytime talk show “Nick Cannon,” which premieres Sept. 27 on Fox Television stations. His show will have guest appearances by Kevin Hart, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Kandi Burruss.
In a recent interview, Cannon spoke to The Associated Press about his new talk show, growing after his controversial remarks and his advice for Dababy, who faced backlash for his homophobic comments at a music festival earlier this year.
AP: Your daytime talk show will be filmed in Harlem. What compelled you to select that location?
Nick Cannon: This is where it all started. This is the oasis. This is the mecca of entertainment of Black culture. I’ve always been a fan of the Harlem renaissance. I’ve been someone who’s been fascinated that so much has been bred here in Harlem. It expands out to the rest of the world where people borrow pieces here and there. Everything from jazz to literature to spoken word to theater. The Apollo is right down the street. The Cotton Club. When you think about the history and do your homework of how important Harlem is to our culture, I don’t see any other better place than Harlem.
AP: Will your talk show only feature celebrity guests?
Cannon: I’m rolling up my sleeves and going out to these communities and jumping into it. I’m not just reporting the stories but trying to become a part of the story. We’re trying to generate stories. Become a curator in that sense. I want to deliver information and introduce individuals you may not have known about. … I’m moving around. The home front and central intelligence is Harlem. But this is a talk show that comes to you. I’m all over the place.
AP: How much have you grown since your controversial anti-semitic remarks?
Cannon: I took time last year to step back and listen. I listened to so many, and I’ve grown in any measure now. I’ve always been someone who is kind of an introvert. But even now, I kind of ponder and meditate and pray before I speak. Before, I was trying to be the first one with the answer. I wanted to show people I was smart. I wanted to even prove to my own kids that I have an education and I read two books a week and I do essays. All of that stuff is great. But when you allow your ego to kind of like “show you how smart I am,” it can definitely come off the wrong way.