Bre Tiesi, mom to Nick Cannon’s eighth child, got real about their relationship on a podcast this week. She said she and Nick are together but have an open relationship.
“He has other partners, and we’re just open and happy—that’s our thing,” Bre shared.
Wait, Nick has other partners? Hmm, not sure how “open” that really sounds, but let’s unpack this.
Here’s a little backstory: Nick has 12 kids, including his son Legendary, whom he shares with Bre. She admitted that people are often confused by their relationship but said she’s happy with their setup. “People call it all kinds of things,” she said, “but I call it, ‘I do what I want to do.’”
Translation? It sounds like Nick does what he wants, and Bre is okay with it. Or at least that’s the vibe—but let’s keep going.
Bre insists she’s not jealous and doesn’t want a traditional relationship anyway. Her priority is raising her son, not managing a full-time partner. “I don’t want to raise a husband or boyfriend,” she said.
Honestly? I respect that. Sometimes, let’s be real, men can feel like an extra kid to take care of.
Bre says her relationship with Nick is the healthiest she’s ever had. They don’t fight, and there’s no toxicity. But let’s be real—how can you fight with someone who’s barely around? It’s giving “long-distance harmony.” Like those wives of truck drivers who thrive when their husbands are on the road but feel differently once they’re home full-time: “Babe, maybe you should hit the highway again.”
On Selling Sunset, Bre dropped a pretty wild fact about Nick Cannon and child support. Apparently, once a guy has 10 kids, the court basically says, “He’s tapped out,” and he doesn’t have to pay child support anymore.
Did y’all know that?
This is why I keep saying: if you’re the fourth, fifth, or sixth baby mama thinking a child support check is going to save the day—newsflash, there’s no money left.
Now, Bre did say she doesn’t depend on Nick to cover her lifestyle. She’s got her own money, takes care of herself, and if her son needs anything, she just asks. “Nick is a good dad,” she said, “but he’s not my sugar daddy, and he’s not the reason I’m where I’m at.”
Okay, cool. But you know I’ve got some thoughts.
A lot of successful women are choosing to be moms without being wives these days. Look at Hoda Kotb from The Today Show—she adopted two little girls. Shonda Rhimes? She’s raising two daughters, too. Neither one of them has a full-time man in the picture.
And you know what? That’s fine. It’s becoming more normal for women to prioritize motherhood.
But Bre, here’s the thing: you’re raising a son.
If we’re being real—and I don’t think you’re being 100% real—you’re okay with this whole open-relationship situation because that’s all Nick is offering. You’ve made your peace with it.
But is this really what you want for your son?
Kids learn by example. If you’re fine with your son growing up to be like Nick Cannon, that’s your choice. But honestly, I don’t think that’s what you want.
And let me tell y’all something: being successful and beautiful doesn’t mean you don’t struggle with self-esteem. How low does your self-esteem have to be to let a man come in and out of your life whenever he feels like it?
Did y’all catch what she said? “He has other partners.” Not we.
Bre says she’s not into monogamy, but let’s be real: biology doesn’t lie. Her chemistry is built for monogamy, even if Nick’s isn’t. That’s been clear since his Mariah Carey days.
Look, just because someone’s famous doesn’t mean they’re a good person. And as for being a good dad? Running in and out of 12 women’s homes doesn’t exactly scream “father of the year” to me.
Be honest with yourself, Bre.
If you want something stable, there’s nothing wrong with saying, “This is what I want, and if it’s not that, then I’m not settling.” You deserve that.
And to all the dads out there: just because sex is easy and having kids is, too, doesn’t mean it’s something you can do without thinking. Sure, there are no laws about it, but that doesn’t mean everyone should be having kids. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I talk about this all the time—raising kids is expensive. I’m not just talking about money, either. It’s an emotional and time commitment.
If you don’t have what it takes to give those things, maybe it’s best not to bring a kid into the world.
Think about it: the world’s already overpopulated. We’ve got homeless people everywhere, and many of them have mental health struggles. But there’s no time to focus on that because we’re too overwhelmed. We say we can’t feed everyone, but it’s not a food problem—it’s about logistics and greed. Still, they keep saying the world’s too full. It’s a good reminder to really think about what it takes to raise a child.
Raising a kid takes a lot—money, emotional energy, and time.
Diapers, formula, daycare, doctor’s visits—all that costs money. But the emotional part is just as important. Kids need someone who’s emotionally stable enough to help them navigate their feelings. You also need to make sure they’ve got a safe, supportive home where they can be themselves. That requires personal growth and hard work on your part.
And then, there’s the time. You can’t just hand a bottle to a baby and hope they’ll fall asleep on their own. You might be exhausted the next day because you stayed up all night. Or you’ll be sitting at the table for hours helping with their homework. I know the way they teach math now doesn’t make sense. It’s longer, more complicated, and honestly, who’s got time for that? But you’ll be sitting there, making sure they understand, instead of reading that book you’ve been wanting to dive into.
And I know you probably picture the mom doing all this, but I’m talking to you dads too. If you don’t have the financial, emotional, and time resources to raise a kid, maybe you should think twice about having one.
Just think about it: if only the people who had what it takes—those who could offer the financial, emotional, and time commitment—were the ones having kids, wouldn’t the world be a better place? People would be more emotionally stable, better educated, and just better overall.
What are you talking about, Auntie Regina? Let me break it down. I’m talking about being mindful—being thoughtful about who you have kids with and the state of your own life. Can you really handle bringing a child into your world right now?
I’m not talking about, “Well, my mama will help me.” No, your mama already raised her kids. Do you and your partner have what it takes right now? Do you even have a partner, or did he disappear the moment he found out you were pregnant?
I want you to really think about this. A lot of us would probably realize, “Wait a minute, I don’t even have enough money to have a baby.” And let’s be real—government assistance isn’t enough. That’s not a long-term solution for raising a child.
You might say, “Well, my mama raised me on government assistance, and I turned out fine.” Did you really? Was there enough money for extracurricular activities, for you to have hobbies or experiences that helped you grow? Did your mom have enough for things like piano lessons, ballet, or sports? Don’t lie to yourself and say you wouldn’t have had a better chance if your mom had a better job, more money, and if both parents were contributing. Life could’ve been easier.
You are who you are today because of how you were raised. And I know you’re amazing. I’m glad you’re here. But let’s not pretend that bringing kids into a world of struggle is always the best thing for them.
I’m not saying people shouldn’t have kids. But if we all were just 10% more aware of our situation, of what it actually takes to raise a child, maybe we’d make better choices.
I know some of you are thinking, “I can’t find a man.” Okay, well, that’s part of my point. If he’s not someone you’d consider marrying or having kids with, then don’t have a child with him.
Others might say, “I have a man, but we’re struggling, and we want to have kids before we get too old.” Well, maybe now isn’t the time. If you can’t even feed yourselves, how will you take care of a baby? Maybe you should focus on getting an education, picking up a skill, and securing a better future first.
Just 10% more thoughtfulness.
Let me know what you think. I know you will. Auntie Regina loves you all. I’m out. Bri and Nick—am I on point with Bri? I think so. She can do better than this.