May 05, 2008 @ 1:25 pm

What Had Happened Was

VIBE Associate Editor Shanel Odum talks about what she saw between Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey

When VIBE’s Associate Editor Shanel Odum was assigned to write about June cover girl Mariah Carey (on newsstands May 13), the presence of Nick Cannon seemed to be more business than pleasure. Cannon was there to direct and appear in the video for Carey’s third single “Bye, Bye,” and was an invited guest to the singer’s 38th birthday party.   

But as soon as VIBE sent the last pages off to be printed and shipped,  Latina.com reported she and Cannon were married. Though there has been much speculation as to whether or not the two said "I do" or didn't, and if it was a commitment ceremony as opposed to a wedding ceremony, one thing is clear: Cannon and Carey were on island of Antigua, some very close friend and family were there. And Odum beared witness to a lot of the events.

Odum gives her take on what she saw between the alleged newlyweds. Was the smell of love in the air? Or is it all just publicity? Read this VIBE.com exclusive, then head to the newsstands on May 13 to get the full Mariah Carey cover story (“Body Language") written by Odum. You don’t want to miss it!

I was on the resort island of Jumby Bay; it is an island in the West Indies. Mariah was celebrating her 38th birthday there. She rented out this huge villa that was $12, 500 a night – gorgeous lay-out right on the edge of the Caribbean ocean, and she invited a handful of her closest friends and associates to help bring in her birthday.

 The couple of guests that I saw there were Da Brat and Nick Cannon. I'd heard rumors that Nick Cannon was supposed to play her love interest in the video. They did a little candid photo shoot to make it seem like they were kissy–poo-poo. It was almost like they were trying to build the picture that maybe they were canoodling in real life. Like, really, it’s a cute idea, but I didn’t believe it for one second. I didn’t feel it was genuine. I believe that maybe Nick had a crush on her.

[Carey is] very over-the-top, flirtatious with the world. But I didn't see any chemistry between the two of them at all. I didn’t see energy. I didn’t see any flirtation.
I’m a little bit skeptical about it. But of course, I can't say anything for certain—I left before anyone went to the bed. I really felt like it was a cute publicity thing—just part of the video. Tabloid coverage is still promotion. Never a bad thing when you drop an album or movie. If I'd witnessed anything juicy while I was there, I would have it at least hinted at in my story. - As Told To Whitney Nichole Stevens

Article tags: Da Brat, Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon 

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