Social Media Praises Fat Joe for Raising Son with Down Syndrome After Ex-Partner’s Abandonment
Feb. 24, 2026 — Social media users across platforms including X are praising rapper Fat Joe for single-handedly raising his son Joey, now 33, with Down syndrome after his ex-partner abandoned them shortly after the diagnosis at birth, a story that resurfaced from an October 2024 podcast interview.
The narrative, originally shared by Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, on the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe, gained renewed traction recently amid posts celebrating Joey’s birthday and lauding Fat Joe as a dedicated father.
Podcast Revelation
In the interview, Fat Joe recounted how his ex-partner, described as his fiancée or girlfriend—not his wife—left after Joey’s diagnosis, demanding $5 million or half his assets.
“She wanted to give him up for adoption… I said, ‘No, we’re keeping him,'” Fat Joe said, according to a recap from People magazine.
He raised Joey alone with family support, as detailed in coverage from Yahoo Life.
Clarification on Marital Status
Fat Joe has been married to Lorena Cartagena since 1995, with no reports of divorce. The pair appear together publicly, including on her Instagram. Some viral posts inaccurately refer to the ex-partner as his “ex-wife.”
Recent Social Media Buzz
Posts on X from February 2026 fueled the resurgence, with users like @chaugeni writing, “Fat Joe has been raising the kid all alone. Today is his birthday, please let’s celebrate him.” Another from @Lumideee_ stated, “Fat Joe also lost his wife because he wouldn’t give up his son…”—mislabeling the relationship.
Discussions also appeared on Reddit’s r/entertainment, echoing the podcast claims. The story spread on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit without new developments.
