Nick Cannon revealed this morning on The Breakfast Club that he was clinically diagnosed as a narcissist and we’re glad he said it out loud.
The word “narcissist” has become a cultural catch-all, often thrown around casually without real context or clinical understanding.
Hearing someone like him actually use the phrase in its proper, medical sense opens the door for a much-needed conversation.
But let’s rewind for a moment.
Cannon’s interview didn’t jump straight into his diagnosis. The buildup before that moment is worth paying attention to because it paints a bigger picture of how we define, misunderstand, and sometimes even glorify traits that overlap with narcissism.
It also made me think about the people in my own circle….friends, colleagues, business owners, and high achievers….whom I’d describe as “high-functioning.”
They’re ambitious, operating at demanding levels in corporate spaces or running their own empires. And if you spend time with them, there are a few habits you’ll recognize right away:
- They get to the point quickly on the phone.
- When they’re present, you have their full attention, as if they’re making up for when they’re completely unavailable.
- They’re hyper-aware of how their behavior might come across …sometimes as selfish, sometimes as unreliable, and yes, sometimes even as narcissistic.
This is why Cannon’s admission hits differently. It blurs the line between traits we casually label as “narcissism” and what it actually means to be clinically diagnosed.
What We Think Narcissism Means vs. What It Actually Is
Nick said for years he glorified toxicity, claiming to feed off it until he was diagnosed as a narcissist.
I used to feed off of toxicity, you know. I used to, you know, from being diagnosed as a narcissist and all that. It’s a process you have to have the right psychiatrist or even psychologist. They both can do it, but it’s like a three week process to where you got to they do a in-person verbal interview that you got to answer all of these questions at a certain pace.
Take it takes about a month to come back and then it’s a spectrum and it tells you where you land on the spectrum of NPD.
He then said:
once you’ve been diagnosed you’re like oh wow so even in dealing with my children or dealing with the mothers of
my children it’s like now I’m equipped with saying oh yeah I’m probably gaslighting when I’m doing that or oh
you know ……But I could probably present this a little softer or at least with a little bit more compassion because …my nature is to be like what I created this, I’m this. I’m that. And then it’s like, but that’s not helping. You know what I mean? We’re not looking for resolution. I’m just looking to be right and really feeding my ego.
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In everyday conversations, “narcissist” has almost become shorthand for anyone selfish, self-centered, or overly confident.
We use it loosely to describe the person who takes one too many selfies, the friend who dominates every conversation, or even the co-worker who can’t seem to see past their own agenda.
In relationships, it’s the guy or woman who overlooks how you feel, doesn’t check in on you because ‘he (or she) was too busy’, or they get pissed at you because you dare to question their feelings because of their behavior.
But clinically, narcissism isn’t just about being self-focused.
It’s an actual personality disorder known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), and it falls under a group of conditions called Cluster B personality disorders, which also include borderline and antisocial personality disorders.
According to the DSM-5 (the manual clinicians use for diagnoses), NPD is defined by a long-term pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy but it has to be consistent and severe enough to impair a person’s relationships, career, or overall functioning.
This is why Nick Cannon’s statement stood out.
He wasn’t just saying, “I can be a little selfish sometimes.”
How Narcissism Is Diagnosed
Nick mentioned during the interview that he had to take a test. That’s important because diagnosing NPD isn’t as simple as someone telling you, “You’re a narcissist.” Clinicians typically use a combination of:
Clinical interviews – A trained professional asks questions about your history, relationships, and behavior patterns.
Self-assessment questionnaires – Tests like the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) or the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) help measure narcissistic traits.
Observation over time – Because personality disorders are enduring, the behaviors need to be consistent across different areas of life, not just in isolated situations.
In Nick’s case, being given an official diagnosis means that his narcissistic traits aren’t just occasional quirks; they’ve been identified, measured, and confirmed within a clinical framework.
Healthy Narcissism vs. Problematic Narcissism
Sheesh… who says ‘healthy narcissism’?
Well it’s a thing!
Not every expression of confidence or self-focus is toxic.
In fact, psychologists sometimes talk about “healthy narcissism.” This is the kind of self-regard that helps you advocate for yourself in the workplace, set boundaries in relationships, or believe in your ability to achieve ambitious goals.
A dose of this kind of narcissism can actually be protective it can help people bounce back from setbacks, push through challenges, and avoid being taken advantage of.
As a matter of fact, in my own life, dealing with people who have ‘healthy narcissism,’ we have matured enough to understand that some actions are not to be taken personally.
And admittedly, it might be just a case of… “it takes one to know one!”
Back to Nick! when we strip away his personal life, and how he has dealt with having 12 children ..blah blah blah, we aren’t mad at him.
The man has quite the career and many of us would sit down and take advice from him if we had a chance. Operating at his level requires healthy narcissism, but if you aren’t healed enough to handle it, things can go left quickly.
Problematic narcissism crosses the line when self-focus becomes harmful to others.
This is where traits like manipulation, lack of empathy, and a deep need for control start to show up.
Instead of boosting confidence, it begins to erode relationships. Instead of motivating someone to work harder, it can leave them feeling entitled to special treatment.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Healthy narcissism: Self-confidence, ambition, boundary-setting, resilience.
Problematic narcissism (NPD): Exploiting others, constant need for admiration, inability to accept criticism, lack of empathy.
This distinction matters because it shows why Nick Cannon’s admission carries weight.
Most of us might see shades of narcissism in ourselves especially in high-performing spaces where self-promotion and ambition are practically required.
But being clinically diagnosed means those traits aren’t just situational; they’re persistent and impactful enough to shape every part of a person’s life.
Before we move on we cannot ignore the elephant in the room… Trauma
During the interview, Nick Cannon connected his narcissism diagnosis to past trauma going as far as suggesting that it may have influenced his decision to have 12 children.
Research shows that toxic or problematic narcissism often develops as a response to unresolved wounds, especially in childhood which he says has influenced his view of what family looks like FOR HIM.
Research also says when a person experiences neglect, instability, or emotional pain early in life, they may build a larger-than-life self-image as a defense mechanism.
The need for admiration, control, or even creating a “legacy” through children can sometimes be traced back to trying to heal or mask those old injuries.
In Cannon’s case, his transparency highlights how trauma doesn’t just live in the past but it can actively shape behaviors, choices, and identities well into adulthood.
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Final thoughts
Many high-functioning, ambitious people walk a fine line between confidence and self-centeredness.
The traits that drive success — ambition, self-belief, the ability to tune out distractions — can sometimes look like narcissism from the outside.
But there’s a world of difference between having strong self-esteem and living with a disorder that disrupts relationships and emotional health.
In our everyday language, it’s easy to label someone who seems self-absorbed or ambitious as narcissistic.
But Cannon’s diagnosis highlights that there’s a difference between personality quirks and a clinically recognized disorder.
By admitting his diagnosis, Cannon peeled back a layer of stigma.
We are reminded that mental health isn’t always visible, that diagnoses can live behind the glamour of success, and that the terms we use so casually carry real meaning for those who live with them.
Nick may not be everybody’s cup of tea but I firmly believe that this particular conversation is important to the culture and it is clear he is doing the work.
Watch the entire interview below:
