Nick Cannon has paid an emotional tribute to his late son Zen who passed away from brain cancer in December 2021 aged just five months. The rapper, 43, who is a proud father to 12 children by six different women, shared a sweet video with Zen’s mother Alyssa Scott, 30, and their daughter Halo, 13 months.
He captioned the video: ‘Zen’s Light and presence shining over little miss Halo and Mommy and Daddy! ‘What a beautiful day to remind us all that there is a higher power and God’s Energy and frequency to keep us all going under his grace and mercy even in the midst of challenges.’
In the clip the family walked together on the beach during sunset while playing with Halo. Zen had previously suffered from hydrocephalus, in which fluid builds up in the cavities of the brain and increases the size of the ventricles, putting pressure on the brain.
He was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his head and was rushed in for surgery. Zen made it out of surgery but his health began to deteriorate around Thanksgiving, and ultimately he died on December 5.
‘We knew since August that Zen’s time on this earth would be limited. We knew he would not make it to see 6 months,’ Scott previous shared in an Instagram post. ‘I am eternally grateful he was in the arms of the people who loved him most.’ ‘I love hard, I love big and I love with my entire Heart and Soul and I just wish my Little Man could’ve felt more of that love while he was here on Earth.’
He continued: ‘One of my Spiritual Leaders recently told me that I am in the midst of one of the most challenging seasons of my life, but encouraged me to be steadfast and know that all of this will only make me stronger, and to not lean on my own understanding but to rely on the peace that surpasses all.
‘But let me tell you, it’s tough… I know a few days ago I wrote a post from my hospital bed saying I will be okay and I just needed rest so don’t waste your prayers on me but I can definitely use those prayers right now… Continue to Peacefully Rest My Son, Zen Scott Cannon. We Love You Eternally,’ Nick concluded.
Cannon shares 12-year-old twins — son Moroccan and daughter Monroe — with his ex-wife, Mariah Carey. Besides his children with the vocal powerhouse and Scott, Cannon also welcomed eight other children with four additional women: beauty pageant queen Brittany Bell; DJ and former radio personality Abby De La Rosa; Selling Sunset reality star Bre Tiesi; and photographer LaNisha Cole.
With Bell, he shares two sons — Golden Sagon and Rise Messiah — and one daughter — Powerful Queen. He also shares three children with De La Rosa. They welcomed two-year-old twin boys Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir in June 2021. Last November, they welcomed a daughter named Beautiful Zeppelin, who is now six-months-old.
Tiesi gave birth to his son Legendary Love in June 2022. And Cannon welcomed his daughter Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole in September 2022.