The fate of Wild ‘N Out hung in the balance as it faced cancellation, after host and creator Nick Cannon was fired by ViacomCBS for his alleged antisemitic comments.
In 2020, Wild ‘N Out’s future was precarious as the hit MTV VH1 show hung in the balance. Fans of the show were not sure if the series was cancelled or not.
This is because the host and show creator, Nick Cannon, was fired by the mother company, ViacomCBS, for allegedly making antisemitic comments. The comments were made during one of the episodes of his podcast, Cannon’s Class, in 2020.
However, in the back and forth that happened after his being fired and Cannon demanding the rights of the show, it was confirmed in February 2021, that Wild ‘N Out would return with new episodes later in the year.
What is Wild ‘N Out?
Wild ‘N Out is MTV VH1’s flagship show, which has been a part of the channel’s programming since 2005. The series was created and executively produced by Nick Cannon, who also serves as the host.
The premise of the series is shared as, “Watch as Nick Cannon and a new A-list celebrity lead a team of improv comedians each week as they compete against each other in the new show: Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘N Out.”
Some of the popular comedians to have gained national acclaim from the show include Chico Bean, Emmanuel Hudson, Mikey Day, and D.C Young Fly.
Why did Wild ‘N Out get cancelled?
Wild ‘N Out never actually got cancelled. Instead, the fate of the show hung in the balance for a while following Nick Cannon’s dismissal by ViacomCBS in 2020.
At the time, Cannon was facing public ridicule for the alleged antisemitic comments he was believed to have made during an episode of his Cannon’s Class podcast, which featured Master Griff.
In the episode, he is said to have discussed conspiracy theories surrounding the extent of ownership that the Jewish community has in the world.
As a result, ViacomCBS fired Cannon, and fans wondered if that meant that Wild ‘N Out would be cancelled too.
However, based on tweets from Cannon at the time, it seemed that ViacomCBS was looking to keep the show with Cannon at the helm.
Cannon took this matter to social media to ensure that he did not lose his show, as he asserted that the show was his intellectual property, and he did not entrust it to the channel.
Nick Cannon fights for Wild ‘N Out ownership
When it seemed that ViacomCBS aimed to continue Wild ‘N Out without Cannon at the helm, he took to Facebook to write a post demanding the rights of the show be returned to him by in part writing, “If I have furthered the hate speech, I wholeheartedly apologize.”
Adding, “But now I am the one making demands. I demand full ownership of my billion dollar Wild ‘N Out brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership! I demand that the hate and back door bullying cease and while we are at it, now that the truth is out, I demand the apology!”
Nick Cannon returns to ViacomCBS and Wild ‘N Out
The legal battle behind the scenes, along with the public apology Nick Cannon shared with a cash donation to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, was seemingly enough to allow for his return to the fore.
This was shortly after it was confirmed that Wild ‘N Out would resume production with Cannon at the helm.
The first episodes that aired following the “calm after the storm,” were in April 2021, and the series has continued to air since.
Currently, the show is in its seventeenth season, which first aired in February 2022. While Wild ‘N Out survived, Nick Cannon’s attempt at a talk show failed to survive its first season.
Why was Nick Cannon cancelled?
Part of the confirmation of Nick Cannon’s return, was that he was also set to premiere his own talk-format show, called Nick Cannon.
The first episode of the talk show premiered in September 2021, with Kevin Hart as the celebrity guest.
In March 2022, Cannon revealed that the talk show would not be renewed for a second season, possibly due to the low viewership ratings the show had. Cannon spoke about the end by sharing:
“This isn’t the last show.” Adding, “We have a month of shows that’s going to be on. This has been a blessing and dream come true. Thank you for letting me come into your homes. I always have something coming!”
Final thoughts
Wild ‘N Out has never been cancelled, as the 2005 premiere MTV VH1 show stands as one of the channel’s most popular flagship series.
However, the future of the show’s creator and front man, Nick Cannon, hung in the balance after the show’s mother company, ViacomCBS fired him for allegedly making antisemitic comments.
Cannon still stands as the creator of the show, following his dismissal, and demands that ViacomCBS turn over the rights of the show to him as the rightful owner.
Following his public apology and donation to a Jewish non-profit organisation, it seems that ViacomCBS brought him back to the fore.