Fat Joe shared a sweet photo with his son Joey Cartagena while celebrating World Autism Awareness Day on Instagram.
The rapper, 53, shared a touching image of himself with his son, 33, while drawing attention to the annual event on his account.
“WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY Joey, this is for you,” the musician, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, captioned the photo. It included a variety of blue heart emojis.
The post captured Joe, who was recently in Miami with Bad Boys stars Will Smith Martin Lawrence, sharing a tender moment with his son, who has autism, along with the day’s official logo.
April 2, 2024 marked the 17th World Autism Awareness Day. April also marks Autism Acceptance Month.
Fat Joe shared a sweet photo with his son Joey Cartagena while recognizing World Autism Awareness Day on Instagram
The Lean Back hitmaker honored the day on his Instagram; pictured last month
“Since the United Nations General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in 2007, the United Nations has observed this day as a means to affirm and promote the full realization of all human rights. human rights and fundamental freedoms of autistic people on an equal basis with others,” reads a description of the day at the UN website.
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionand those who are diagnosed often struggle with “social communication and interaction and with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.”
The rapper previously said he was “very proud” of his son when speaking about his family and the opening of his memoir, The Book of Jose, in 2022.
‘He has been above and beyond. He is autistic. And he is the Don of the family. “When we sit together for Thanksgiving, he sits in his seat and looks at everyone and just laughs,” the father of three said in The view.
‘He inspires me. He is a great blessing in our life, he is almost like an angel. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, little Joey, and I’m so proud of it.
Joey was born when the rapper was only 19 years old.
“Well, I’m 19 years old, we’re going to have Joey, once the doctors told me he wouldn’t be normal, his mother said we should give him up for adoption,” he explained in ABC News in 2022.
‘That was not the case. Me and my mom and dad raised Joey and we were like, “No, he’s ours.” He has brought a lot of joy to this family and I feel like he is the biggest blessing to me, my career and my family, and Joey is always, always happy, he is a lot of joy.
The post captured the All The Way Up hitmaker sharing a tender moment with his son, who has autism, alongside the day’s official logo.
In December, the Lean Back hitmaker celebrated his son’s birthday with hilarious photos of them holding huge tennis balls.
‘God bless my firstborn, little Joey. I love you with all my heart,’ he wrote in the post.
‘Now of course you know kids on the spectrum, they’re difficult to deal with, a lot of parents run away, a lot of parents run away from responsibility because it’s not easy.
“Raising a child on the spectrum and with autism, I told the world: ‘listen guys, we are all normal, we all have situations in this world, we love our children and we are here to support them’ and I just want to encourage any parent , to any parent who is going through difficult times with their children, to stay there and know that it is our greatest blessing.”
In December, the Lean Back hitmaker celebrated his son’s birthday with hilarious photos of them holding huge tennis balls.
‘God bless my firstborn, little Joey. I love you with all my heart Happy birthday Joey, you are the greatest blessing in the world. More life, more greatness. I will always be by your side,’ he posted.