Rapper Fat Joe recently opened up about the painful reality of raising his son, Joey, alone after Joey’s mother chose to abandon him following his Down syndrome diagnosis. The rapper shared the story during an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast.
In the emotional conversation, Fat Joe recalled the moment when doctors revealed that Joey had Down syndrome. “The doctor tells us, ‘I got bad news to tell you… your son has Down syndrome, and it’s going to be a big challenge,’” Joe shared. However, it was his then-partner’s reaction that shook him the most. “His mother said, ‘I can’t do this. I’m going to have to give him up for adoption,’” Joe explained. Despite the difficult situation, Joe’s own mother refused to accept this fate, telling Joey’s mother, “You crazy, bi**h, I’m not giving up on him.”
Fat Joe Father’s Duty
Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, was just 19 years old when Joey was born. He explained that from that moment on, he and his parents took on the responsibility of raising Joey, and his ex-partner disappeared from their lives. “We raised him by ourselves. She never visited him again,” Joe revealed. He added that he never prevented her from seeing their son, but “she never came back.”
Throughout the interview, Joe emphasized his role as a father and his unwavering commitment to his children. “A father has to be a father,” he said firmly. “I don’t know how to be a fake father. I don’t know how to give up on my kids.”
Joey, now 33, has always been a source of joy for the family, according to the rapper. “This guy is always happy. He’s never sad,” Joe said. Despite the challenges, Joe referred to Joey as the “Don” of the family and called him their “biggest blessing.”
Reflecting on his journey, Fat Joe concluded, “Because we never gave up on him, God hasn’t given up on us.”