Former “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon is unbothered by reports of sources feeling worried about his mental state.
The news on the comedian’s supposed cerebral woes emerged Thursday, Feb. 16, when Page Six reported Cannon fired his longtime publicist Alla Plotkin and agent, Chris Smith. Sources also told the publication the actor “got really into religion” recently, although he doesn’t subscribe to a specific kind and allegedly refers to himself as “Rev. Dr. Cannon.”
The report followed a statement Cannon issued Monday, Feb. 13, revealing he would quit hosting “America’s Got Talent” after he said executives planned to fire him over an n-word-laden joke about his Black card.
“I wish ‘AGT’ and NBC the best in its upcoming season, but I cannot see myself returning,” he said, vowing to stand up against what he called network’s “Do-as-I-say mentality.” A day later, the outspoken star expounded upon his decision to leave the variety show to The Boombox.
“Harsh times calls for harsh words,” Cannon told website hosts. “And when we’re dealing with a society who often tended to sweep things under the rug [and] try to pull the wool over your eyes and when a lot of things are revealed people speak up and it’s a passionate time. We gotta be aware … be aware that the system wasn’t designed for us.
“Just understand that you can go along with it or you could fight against the system.”
Cannon brushed off the rumors about his mental health on Instagram Saturday, Feb. 18.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQpEOSilbdu/?taken-by=nickcannon
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQpFKgblZGw/?taken-by=nickcannon
Several people online have taken notice of how Cannon’s public persona has changed since he announced his enrollment at historically Black Howard University in fall 2016.
Howard must have Nick Cannon all the way woke.
— Fast Food Fattyyyyy (@nogal_alegna) February 20, 2017
Nick Cannon definitely took an African American studies class at Howard.
— Keith Haywood (@therealkhj) February 20, 2017
This man nick cannon went to Howard and came out a whole diff person
— naz #1 fan (@_mustiful) February 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/DudeFromTwitta/status/833515865312284672
Some simply speculated on the influence the school had on Cannon’s new style, which was widely acknowledged during the NBA All-Star Game Sunday, Feb. 19.
https://twitter.com/TeejTheBeardGod/status/833516586782826498
https://twitter.com/Bmalle246/status/833522671463825408
https://twitter.com/fwmoore3/status/833519593012477952