Nick Cannon Discusses the "Hurtful" Conversations He's Had About Police Brutality With His Kids

From Good Housekeeping

The Masked Singer host Nick Cannon is among the many citizens who have been protesting racial injustice and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, who was murdered by a white police officer on May 25.

Reflecting on recent events and his attendance at the protests in Minneapolis, the 39-year-old shared with Access Hollywood last week the conversations he's been having with his children; 9-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, who he shares with Mariah Carey, and Golden, his 3-year-old son with Brittany Bell.

When asked if Nick had spoken to his children about what to do when they encounter law enforcement, Nick said his kids do fear the police.

"I try to teach fearlessness. I try to teach [them] that you have a power within you that you need to fear nothing," Nick began. "But when they see the energy of law enforcement, when, 'Uh oh, here comes the police,' or that mindset of sit up straight and 'Don't talk, keep you hands where they can see them,' these are things I'm talking to a 3-year-old about and our 9-year-olds about, and they bring those questions to me."

He added: "I remember you know, growing up, there was an idea where one wanted to be a police officer ... but now ... it has definitely changed to where they perpetuate fear. It's something that is hurtful to have those conversations with your children, but you want to protect them at the end of the day."

Nick also made it clear that he's been reluctant to do interviews for the most part because he wants to keep the focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial justice, not himself: "We've been on these front lines walking, marching, protesting and quite frankly, we're tired of it."

The TV host, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2012, also said he commends those who have chosen to peacefully march as the coronavirus pandemic continues and the U.S. nears 1.95 million reported cases.

"I'm ready to put my life on the line for this, because there's nothing more important to my community, nothing more important to my family, nothing more important to me than to evoke change in a real way."

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