Nick Cannon Celebrates Late Son Zen on His 5th Birthday

Nick Cannon Reveals His 5-Month-Old Son Has Died

Nick Cannon is celebrating his little boy.

More than four years after his and Alyssa Scott's son Zen died following a battle with brain cancer, the Wild 'N Out host shared how they honored what would have been his 5th birthday.

"What a beautiful celebration of life for our Angel Zen Scott Cannon," Cannon—whose son was born June 23, 2021—captioned his June 25 Instagram post, highlighting their day at the beach. "Zen's Light will forever shine in our hearts. We love you my son."

The 45-year-old—who also shares daughter Halo, 3, with Scott—also included a Bible verse about light shining out of darkness.

Cannon, the model and their loved ones cut a cake adorned with a photo of Zen and topped with a 5-shaped candle, as well as hosted a candlelight vigil by the shore. In another snap, the group posed with a photo of Scott holding Zen that read, "Forever in my heart."

It was a full-circle moment for the parents, who previously shared that they had watched the sunrise on the beach with Zen during their last outing.

When the All That alum—dad to 12 kids with six different women—announced his son's passing at 5 months in December 2021, he put a spotlight on Scott's strength amid the grief.

"Alyssa was just the strongest woman I have ever seen. Never had an argument, never was angry," he said on his eponymous talk show. "She was emotional when she needed to be but was always the best mom and continues to be the best mom possible. So I've got to say thank you to my entire family but specifically to Alyssa."

For Scott's part, she reflected on her grief that same day Cannon announced that he was expecting a baby with Bre Tiesi.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

"I want to thank every single person who has messaged or thought of me over the last course of these last few months," she wrote on Instagram in January 2022. "I always say Zen expanded my heart in ways I never thought possible. He filled that space with compassion, knowing I would need that most."

Cannon eventually turned their pain into action when he and Scott established Zen's Light Foundation to benefit pediatric health care on what would have been his first birthday in June 2024.

"Zen's birth has now transformed into 'Zen's Light,'" he wrote on Instagram at the time. "We are proud to announce his new foundation that will help so many others in this world. 'Zen's Light' mission is to foster global excellence in hope, grief-care, and pediatric healthcare for families and children in need."

As Cannon and Scott keep Zen's memory alive, keep reading for a closer look at the Drumline actor's family tree.

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