Nick Cannon blames visitation issues for divorce delay

Nick Cannon has revealed custody issues are holding up his divorce from Mariah Carey.

The couple split amicably in 2014, and the America's Got Talent host filed to legally end the six-year marriage at the end of the year (14).

Recent reports suggested Nick had been stalling divorce proceedings to prevent Mariah from moving forward with plans to wed her new fiance, billionaire James Packer, but the actor/rapper and TV personality shut down the claims in June (16), telling news show Extra, "Nobody is holding nothing up (sic)."

Now Nick has opened up about the lengthy proceedings in more detail to shock jock Howard Stern, insisting their divorce has nothing to do with money - because they are both abiding by their pre-nuptial agreement.

"First of all, there's no money involved whatsoever," he said, before quipping, "Don't I wish that was the case!"

The 35-year-old then revealed visitation with their five-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan is one of the issues at the centre of the former couple's divorce delay - a situation he deems "tough", particularly for dads.

During Monday's (18Jul16) candid chat, Nick explained, "This is the thing. Mariah and I are super cool. We talk every day. I'm like a recurring character on a sitcom, 'I'm here to pick up the kids!'"

Referencing his recent song Divorce Papers, he continued, "In my freestyle, I said 'time spent with your kids is considered visitation by the system', which is f**ked up. That's pain right there. It's unfair and a lot of times it's unfair to the fathers in the situation...

"It's tough and one of the reasons why we're still dealing with what we're dealing with."

Nick and Mariah have always remained on good terms, putting their children first, and the doting dad insists he clears his schedule whenever it's his turn to spend time with the twins.

"Everything shuts down when I'm with my kids. It's their time," he smiled. "My house is like a big funhouse. I have a candy store and slides.... We're just playing the whole time... But I'm also a disciplinarian with bedtime, all that. They know dad don't play (sic)."

And Nick is adamant he wishes nothing but the best for his ex and her new man.

"We're in a great space," he gushed. "It takes the pressure off that she has a fiance. I wish all my exes had billionaires! She was never really angry with me in that sense (money-wise) but to see her happy is outstanding."

The former couple's relationship is in such a good place, Nick is convinced he would be welcome at Mariah's next wedding.

"I think I would be invited to the wedding," he mused, "but I probably wouldn't go."

The marriage will be Mariah's third - she was also previously wed to music mogul Tommy Mottola in the 1990s.