Akon Reveals Rules for His Multiple Wives in Polyamorous Relationship

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Akonis certainly not Mr. Lonely.

Akron singer, known as “Lonely,” recently revealed he practices polyamory and has multiple wives. He explained that they all collaborate on household tasks and work together to maintain a peaceful and loving relationship.

When asked about how many wives he has, Akon playfully responded on the May 19th episode of the We Need to Talk podcast, “I’ll let you use your imagination.”

Although 53-year-old Aliaune Badara Thiam (known professionally as Akon) has multiple wives, he maintains that he is their only partner. His wives are not permitted to have relationships with other men.

Akon recently addressed his relationships following his wife, Tomeka Thiam’s, divorce filing after almost thirty years of marriage. He explained that there’s a clear order to his relationships, and everyone involved must respect his first wife, though he didn’t say specifically if he meant Tomeka when he said ‘first wife’.

He explained that she was the reason he had any of his wives. He called her ‘the queen’ and made it clear that disrespecting his first wife was unacceptable – anyone who did would be immediately divorced.

As Akon sees it, it’s his first wife who is “actually sacrificing in the end.” 

He explained that when new people join the family, they bring different perspectives and ways of doing things, and the first wife needs to adjust to those changes.

Despite everything, the singer of “Smack That” thinks his wives actually benefit from their polyamorous relationship.

He explained that when families come together like this, women often benefit more than men. This is because the man typically carries the responsibility of supporting and treating everyone fairly, and that burden falls on him.

Ultimately, Akon believes the key to his successful relationship is open communication, which he sees as the solution to any problem.

He explained that if he finds himself in a difficult situation, he needs to be able to clearly communicate what he likes and doesn’t like, what he agrees with and disagrees with, and what he’s willing to accept. Once everyone establishes some ground rules, he believes it’s important to simply follow them – it really is that straightforward.

For more stars who have tried non-monogamy, keep reading… 

The “Lonely” singer confirmed he has multiple wives in May 2025. 

As for how many? He said, “I’ll just leave that to your imagination.”

The musician has several rules within his polyamorous relationship, like a defined order of importance and a restriction against his wives having other partners. However, he stresses that despite these rules, their arrangement is successful.

He explained on the We Need to Talk podcast that being able to clearly communicate your boundaries is key. You need to be able to say what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not, and what you’re willing to accept in a situation. Once those boundaries are set, everyone should respect them – it really is that straightforward.

The Queer Eye star and their husband Mark Peacock go through “seasons” of non-monogamy.

Jonathan explained on The Mitch Churi Chat Show in February 2026 that he believes in approaching relationships with defined periods, or ‘seasons.’ While some worry that open relationships can create irreversible complications, he said they’ve successfully navigated those challenges and made it work for them.

However, an open communication about boundaries is paramount to making it work.

We’ve managed to adjust our schedules to fit what’s happening in our lives, and that system works well for us, the hairstylist explained.

What is off the table, though?

JVN Hair founder Justine Marjan said she’s not interested in polyamory. She explained that she simply doesn’t have the energy or time to manage the emotional needs of more than one partner – it would be too much to handle.

RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar, have an open relationship because they believe strict monogamy isn’t realistic, especially for men. RuPaul explained to The New Yorker in 2024 that it simply made sense for their connection. They didn’t actively decide on an open relationship; it just evolved naturally. Having met in 1994 and married years later, RuPaul told Vanity Fair in 2019 that the idea of perfect monogamy is a myth. He doesn’t want to limit the person he loves most, his best friend. Importantly, their open marriage doesn’t diminish their love for each other. RuPaul believes if something brings happiness and is irresistible, it should be pursued, because he knows Georges loves him more than anything else.

Oh my gosh, Kody Brown used to say love should multiply, not divide! I’ve been watching him and his wives – Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn – for years on Sister Wives. He said he just kept falling in love, over and over, and they really seemed like a family… at first. But things have completely fallen apart. First Christine left in 2021, then Janelle in 2022, and then Meri announced their marriage was over for good just a month after that. Now it’s just him and Robyn! He actually admitted he’s not even a fan of plural marriage anymore. He told People magazine he’s had failures with it and you really have to be careful who gets into it. He even said some couples who know each other really well still can’t make it work! It’s so sad. Christine is happily married to David Woolley now and says she’d never do polygamy again. Janelle is open to it, though! And Robyn? She says she’d do it again if she could be sure it would actually be a good experience. It’s just… a lot to process after watching them for so long.

Willow Smith sparked a conversation about non-monogamy during an episode of Red Table Talk. She explained that polyamory is about creating a relationship style that fits your needs, rather than automatically following traditional expectations.

“It’s about freedom,” Willow said. She pointed out that infidelity is a major reason for relationship problems and divorces, and questioned why one partner should have to suppress their needs to match another’s.

While her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, and co-host Adrienne Banfield-Norris listened attentively, Willow also clarified a common misconception. Despite being the only polyamorous person in her friend group, she actually has the least amount of sexual activity.

Shailene Woodley believes that when it comes to relationships, only the opinions of those involved truly matter. She’s experienced both open and traditional monogamous relationships and feels that in today’s world, couples should create their own rules – whether it’s just two people or more. As she told The New York Times in 2020, the key is honesty, communication, and trust. Ultimately, she believes what people choose to do in their relationships is a private matter and none of anyone else’s business.

Ne-Yo doesn’t seem bothered by criticism regarding his relationships. He shared on Instagram in February that he doesn’t care if people disapprove of his polyamorous lifestyle. This came after he publicly introduced his four girlfriends in March 2025. Ne-Yo and Crystal Renay finalized their divorce in 2023 after nearly seven years of marriage.

The Grammy-winning artist discussed his relationship approach on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show in February 2025, explaining that it’s built on honesty and consent. He shared that he regrets not being upfront sooner, believing it could have avoided a lot of pain. However, he emphasized that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. ‘I’m not saying everyone should try what I’m doing,’ he clarified. ‘I’m just sharing what works for me.’ Ultimately, he’s found greater happiness and peace, and that’s what matters most. He doesn’t need or expect everyone to understand or agree with his choices; he’s doing it for himself.

Nick Cannon has recently been the subject of discussion regarding his large family with multiple partners. However, he’s previously explained his views on relationships. In a 2021 interview on The Breakfast Club, Cannon questioned the traditional idea of monogamy, calling it a culturally-based concept. He believes the expectation that a person should have only one partner for life is outdated and that ownership doesn’t belong in relationships. He suggested that relationships should be about mutual exchange and contribution to growth and population.

Cannon shares twins Moroccan and Monroe with Mariah Carey, and has children Golden, Powerful Queen, and Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell. He also has son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi, daughter Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole, twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa, and two children—daughter Halo Marie and late son Zen—with Alyssa Scott.

Cannon clarified that the women in his life willingly choose to have children with him, stating, “Those women…are the ones that open themselves up to say, ‘I would like to allow this man in my world, and I will birth this child.’ So, it ain’t my decision. I’m following suit.”

Bella Thorne is currently in a monogamous relationship with her fiancé, Mark Emms, but she used to explore non-monogamous relationships. In a 2019 interview with Cosmopolitan, she described these experiences as “really fun” and expressed her enjoyment of loving multiple people simultaneously and sharing intimacy with more than one partner. She explained that she was actively seeking ways to make this lifestyle work because it brought her happiness.

Thorne acknowledged that this wasn’t for everyone, saying that some partners were initially surprised but she was upfront about her preferences. She emphasized that she was prioritizing her own happiness and needed a partner who was comfortable with this arrangement. If a potential partner couldn’t accept her desire for multiple relationships, or if it would cause them pain, she understood and believed they weren’t a good fit for her at that time.

As for Yungblud, he’s shared he identifies as pansexual and polyamorous.

Looking back, I’d definitely say I identify as polyamorous. For a long time, though, I was just figuring things out. I learned so much about myself – and what felt right – through meeting different people and openly discussing sexuality and gender. It was a process of self-discovery, realizing what truly resonated with me and where I fit on the spectrum of identity.

Bob the Drag Queen is happily in two relationships, and is comfortable with the fact that their partners also date other people. Speaking on the April 2025 episode of Boyfriend Material With Harry Jowsey, the Traitors star explained that they have one partner in Los Angeles and another in Georgia, and the two partners get along. Bob shared that they value their independence and don’t want to be someone’s “everything,” finding it freeing when their partners have other relationships. They appreciate not feeling like they need to be constantly available, and see their partners having partners as a positive thing.

Nico Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers got married in 2018 and wrote about their relationship, describing it as queer and polyamorous – meaning open to multiple loving relationships. They explained that this wasn’t a planned lifestyle, but rather how their 12-year relationship naturally evolved. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and after having children, Kilmer and Pesce Pearl, their relationship became monogamous. In a 2024 podcast episode, they confirmed they are currently not open to other relationships, though they haven’t ruled out the possibility of exploring non-monogamy again in the future.

Omarion believes traditional monogamy isn’t realistic or ideal. During a February 2025 appearance on Sherri, he explained that he values openness in relationships, pointing out that there are often fewer ‘good men’ than women. He argues that men naturally have multiple important relationships – with family and future generations – and sees no reason why women shouldn’t be aware of and accept this.

He feels the idea of non-monogamy isn’t new, just outdated and needing a modern update, and encourages more open conversations about it. Omarion believes that when men are honest about wanting more than one connection, it empowers women to make informed choices and truly understand a man’s nature, something he feels many women currently don’t. He suggests a broader discussion is needed about understanding men and their natural inclination to procreate.

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2026-05-23 00:19