Chingy is not here for the internet’s deadbeat dad allegations, which went viral following his son Isaiah Russell-Bailey posting a heartfelt acknowledgment to his mother.
The alleged shade came after the St.Louis-born rapper revealed that Bailey was his son during a sit down with Jason Lee for Hollywood Unlocked.
“My youngest son is actually a big actor out here in California,” he said. “Isaiah Russell-Bailey. He’s on Disney movies and all that stuff.”
Following the interview and the reveal of familial ties, Bailey took to the internet with high praise for his mother—actor and choreographer Brittany Perry-Russell—in what many internet cousins took as shade towards his father who may not have played an integral role in his upbringing.
“Everything I am, I owe to the woman who was always there,” Bailey wrote in a post. “Grateful for you always. #Mom”
The actor shared the loving message alongside photos of himself and his mother at the press day for one of his latest projects. The cute mother and son duo have been capturing hearts for years through dance videos posted to social media before he landed a role on Netflix’s Family Reunion. He’s racked up tons of credits since then while his mother continues to work across Hollywood as well.
Neither of them had ever mentioned his connection to Chingy; however, Perry-Russell has spoken candidly, in the past, about raising her son as a single mother.
Though neither Perry-Russell or Russell-Bailey responded directly to the internet chatter, the latter’s likes seemed to paint the picture that he was indirectly confirming a lack of participation from Chingy as his father. However, the rapper clapped back at the speculation, claiming his desire was to let his son carve out his own path far away fromt he shadow of his moderately famous father.
“I normally don’t address narratives on the internet, especially when it comes to my family,” he told Hollywood Unlocked. “But when my relationship with my son gets spoken on, I’ll say this: Isaiah knows the relationship he and I have. He knows the love I have for him. Everything a father does for his child isn’t posted for the world to see. And when it comes to his career, I want him to build something that belongs to him—not live in my shadow. I’ll always be there to give him game, support him and help him navigate when he needs me.”
He continued,
“I’m proud of my son, I love my son, and I don’t need social media to validate that. The people who actually matter know what it is. I wish him nothing but success.”
Chingy also revealed that he was a grandfather during the interview but that was certainly eclipsed by his revelation about Isaiah. Nonetheless, both Perry-Russell and Russell-Bailey seem to be making the most out of their incredible respective talents while proving that one monkey don’t stop no show. Good for them!
