Fat Joe claims the mother of his first-born son Joey completely abandoned the child after he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and autism at birth.
The Grammy-nominated rapper, 54, appears on Shannon Sharpe’s weekly podcast Club Shay Shay Wednesday held nothing back when detailing his parenting journey involving Joey, 33, with the NFL Hall-of-Famer, 56.
The New York City resident recalled how doctors informed him and Joey’s mother of the diagnoses after his birth.
“So the doctor tells us, ‘I have bad news to tell you… he has Down syndrome and it’s going to be a big challenge,’” said the entertainer, whose full name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena. ‘His mother said, “Yes, I can’t do this, I’m going to have to give him up for adoption.”‘
The What is Luv? The singer said his mother was furious at his ex’s reactions – calling her a ‘crazy b****’ – and that the family cut off contact with Joey’s mother at that point.
Fat Joe, 54, claims the mother of his first-born son Joey completely abandoned the child after he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and autism at birth
“I never saw his mother again, that’s what I’m trying to tell you – she never visited him again – she abandoned the child,” said Fat Joe, adding that he, his mother and his father were the people who ‘raise’ Joey. .
Fat Joe explained that he never made any effort to keep Joey’s mother from seeing him.
“It wasn’t like I kept the door closed so she couldn’t see her son,” the All the Way Up artist said. “It was always possible for her to see her son.”
The Get It Poppin artist said that a “dad’s got to be a dad” and that he never took the task of raising his children lightly.
“I have to take care of my kids no matter what and do everything I can for them,” Fat Joe said. “I don’t know how to give up on my children – I don’t know how not to love my children – that’s impossible.”
Fat Joe, who is also father to son Ryan, 27, from a previous relationship, and daughter Azariah, 17, with wife Lorena Cartagena, said he “don’t know how to be a fake dad.”
Fat Joe said Joey, who has been diagnosed with autism several times, always remains in good spirits despite the “challenges” he faces in life.
“This man is happy,” said Fat Joe. “I swear to God, he’s always happy. He is never sad. He says, if you’re stuck somewhere, he’s stuck in happiness.’
The New York City resident recalled how doctors informed him and Joey’s mother of the diagnoses after his birth
The musical artist posted a few photos in honor of Joey’s birthday last December 16
The entertainer, whose full name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, told Sharpe: ‘His mom said, “Yo, I can’t do this, I’m gonna have to put him up for adoption”‘
Fat Joe explained that he never made any effort to keep Joey’s mother from seeing him
The Get It Poppin artist said that a ‘dad’s got to be a dad’ and that he never took on the task of raising his children lightly
He said Joey “does what he wants” and “gets what he wants” as “the Don” of the family.
“He sits at the end of the table and knows, ‘Oh, those are my little brothers and sisters,’” Fat Joe said. “He is our greatest blessing because we treat him the way we do, because we have never let him down.”
The musical artist posted a few photos in honor of Joey’s birthday last December 16.
“God bless my firstborn little Joey,” he said. “I love you with all my heart…Happy Birthday Joey, you are the greatest blessing in the world. more life, more greatness. I will always be by your side.”