On the May 2 edition of The TMZ Podcast, entertainer Nick Cannon laid out the different dating expectations he applies to his fraternal twins, Monroe and Moroccan, who are 15 years old. He made no effort to disguise what he called a double standard, and he framed the distinction as a conscious parenting choice rather than an oversight. As a public figure and the father of a large blended family—he shares the twins with his ex-wife Mariah Carey—Cannon’s comments immediately prompted discussion online about gender, safety and parental authority. He emphasized two recurring themes: a protective stance toward his daughter and a desire for transparent family conversations.
The rules he described
Cannon explained that his son has been allowed to date and that he has even encouraged it, while his daughter faces tighter limits. He was blunt in admitting the arrangement is unequal, and he used that admission to outline specific household rules. In practice, Monroe can attend social outings under conditions: she must be able to explain the plans to her parent, and often her twin brother, Moroccan, is required to accompany her. Cannon summarized the arrangement as a negotiated set of boundaries designed to avoid one-on-one situations he distrusts. He framed these measures as practical safeguards rather than arbitrary punishments, and he insisted that the rules are intended to allow supervised dating while preserving parental oversight.
Why he defends the approach
At the core of Cannon’s rationale is a protective instinct he