Fat Joe discusses raising his son with autism and Down syndrome

Rapper Fat Joe shared personal reflections regarding his son Joey, who is 35 years old and nonverbal. During an interview on SiriusXM with Tisha Campbell, Joe discussed the challenges and impact of Joey being diagnosed with both autism and Down syndrome at birth.

Joe recalled being 19 years old and feeling “scared to death” and “devastated” when doctors informed him that his son would have special needs. He credited his parents, Ernesto and Marie Cartagena, for providing essential support during Joey's upbringing. Joe noted that his son maintained a particularly close bond with his paternal grandfather, Ernesto, until his passing in February.

Reflecting on the experience, the Bronx native stated that raising a neurodivergent child has changed his perspective on parenting and expressed empathy for other parents navigating similar situations. He also highlighted the importance of raising awareness for children with special needs.