Ice-T is well known as a legendary rapper and a longtime star of Law & Order: SVU. But at home, he says, he is simply “Dad.”
The Blast recently spoke with Ice-T during a special event for National Iced Tea Day at Raising Cane’s. He talked openly about family life, his daughter Chanel Nicole, and what Father’s Day means to him.
The birth of Chanel in 2015 brought a new chapter for Ice-T and his wife, Coco Austin. It strengthened their bond and changed how Ice-T views parenting. Now a father of three, Ice-T says he finds the greatest joy in small moments, especially when he feels appreciated.
Ice-T Jokes About Father’s Day
“Father’s Day? That’s when they take me out to dinner, and I still end up paying,” Ice-T joked. “But really, I’m just proud to have kids who love me. That’s the biggest gift. You don’t have to do anything big. Just show us that we’re appreciated. That’s what being a father is about.”
This mix of humor and sincerity is classic Ice-T. It shines especially when he talks about Chanel, who is growing into a young star. At eight years old, she already enjoys singing, dancing, and modeling.
“My daughter wants to meet a lot of people, but I don’t have any ‘ins’ in her world,” he said with a laugh. “We took her to see Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish.” Ice-T recalled Sabrina Carpenter’s appearance on Law & Order: SVU as a child actor and praised her talent.
Chanel Nicole: Following in Her Parents’ Footsteps
At just eight, Chanel is already making a name for herself. Fans often notice how much she looks like Ice-T. However, Ice-T says the resemblance is not one-sided.
In a 2023 interview with Today, he explained that Chanel sometimes gets annoyed when people say she looks like him instead of her mom. “If you look at any old pictures of Coco, there’s similarities there,” he said.
Coco agrees that Chanel is a true mix of both parents. “She’s very lovable, she’s very sweet,” Coco told PEOPLE in 2017. “I think she’s got the attitude from dad, and she’s got my lovable personality. I’d say she’s a mix.” Coco has also joked that Chanel has mastered Ice-T’s famous “side eye.”
Sharing Chanel’s Life Online
Ice-T and Coco often share moments from Chanel’s life on social media. They do this with Chanel’s full approval.
“It’s fun and she likes doing it,” Ice-T said in 2023. “If she didn’t, we definitely wouldn’t do it.”
The couple even created an Instagram account for Chanel shortly after she was born. They wanted to share many photos without overwhelming their own personal pages.
“We’re not afraid of anything happening,” Ice-T explained. “Some people say, ‘don’t show her face.’ We’re not worried about that. We just feel like we’re sharing something that makes us happy.”
Still, Ice-T says Chanel’s happiness is the most important thing. “We would stop immediately if she no longer enjoyed it,” he added. “We watch everything and post everything carefully.”
A Proud Parenting Team
For Ice-T and Coco, raising their children is a team effort filled with pride, joy, and a little sass from their mini-me, Chanel. Whether she chooses to follow her parents’ careers or make her own path, one thing is clear: the world is already watching.
