Ne-Yo Says He’s Lost Work Due to Polyamorous Relationship With 3 Women

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Ne-Yo recognizes his romantic relationships are unusual, but he’s puzzled by how they’re starting to impact his career.

Shaffer Chimere Smith, known as the artist, has said that since becoming openly polyamorous with his partners – Cristina (also known as “Pretty Baby”), Arielle Hill (“Twin Flame”), and Moneii (“Phoenix Feather”) – he’s experienced difficulties in getting work offers.

The 46-year-old shared on the May 7th episode of the Sorry We’re Cyrus podcast with Tish and Brandi Cyrus that they’ve faced backlash for being in a polyamorous relationship. They explained that some people are upset, and they’ve lost out on opportunities because of it, with some questioning whether they could support a polyamorous lifestyle.

In fact, he’s not sure why his personal life matters.

He explained that it feels like people are quick to dismiss you – to ‘cancel’ you – the moment you do something they disagree with, even if you’ve otherwise been respectful and kind. He finds this illogical.

The singer, known for his song “One in a Million,” was married to Crystal Renay until 2023. He believes people might be more understanding if they learned more about his relationship.

He insisted people needed to see it for themselves, reacting to criticism that it was ‘degrading.’ He questioned who was being degraded, emphasizing that everyone participated willingly and asking, ‘What are you even talking about?’ He stressed he wasn’t deceiving anyone and wanted to know who felt disrespected.

But at the same time, he “can’t give the haters any more energy.”

Ne-Yo has been open about his polyamorous relationship since he first revealed it, which previously involved four partners. He recently posted a heartfelt message online celebrating his anniversary with Cristina, Arielle, and Moneii.

He shared on Instagram on May 10th that he feels incredibly lucky to have found a love that many only wish for. He described waking up happy each day, facing life with confidence and joy, knowing he has a strong partner and a genuine connection. He feels like this dream life is his reality, and he’s grateful for the support and love he receives.

But like any relationship, it has its highs and lows.

We’ve been together for around three years. Like any relationship, we’ve had our challenges and good times. But the positive moments have always been much stronger than the negative. We’re both still growing and improving, and I’m committed to meeting you halfway, leading with kindness, and continuing to build a beautiful life together.

Ne-Yo ended by saying he doesn’t care what critics say. He’s happy and plans to stay that way, expressing his love and gratitude to his fans.

Ne-Yo isn’t the only celebrity who’s been open about having relationships outside of traditional monogamy—here’s a look at others who have shared their experiences.

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

Jonathan explained on The Mitch Churi Chat Show that he prefers approaching relationships with specific timeframes, acknowledging that some people worry open relationships can be difficult to end once started. He added that he and his partner have successfully navigated this challenge.

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

The hairstylist explained that they’ve been able to adjust their schedule to fit what’s happening in their personal lives, and that arrangement is working well for them.

What is off the table, though?

JVN Hair founder Justine Marjan said she’s not cut out for 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 demanding.

RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar, have an open relationship that works for them because they believe strict monogamy isn’t realistic, RuPaul explained in a 2024 interview with The New Yorker. They didn’t intentionally decide to have an open marriage; it simply evolved. RuPaul, who met Georges in 1994 and married him years later, 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 will genuinely make his husband happy, he should pursue it, because he knows Georges loves him more than anything else.

Kody Brown famously stated that love should grow, not be split. For many years, he lived this belief by being married to four wives – Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, and Robyn Brown – and their lives were chronicled on the reality show Sister Wives. Initially, Kody explained he simply continued to fall in love. However, his views on polygamy have changed. Christine and Kody separated in November 2021, followed by Janelle in December 2022. In January 2023, Meri also announced the end of their marriage. Now, Robyn is Kody’s only wife.

Kody Brown shared with People magazine in December 2023 that while he personally isn’t a proponent of plural marriage, he’s learned from his own experiences with it—and his failures. He emphasized the need for careful consideration and wisdom when entering such a relationship.

He acknowledged that while it can work for some, even long-established plural marriages can fail.

Several of Kody’s former wives have moved on. Christine has embraced monogamy, marrying David Woolley in 2023 and stating she wouldn’t return to a plural lifestyle. Janelle, however, has said she’d be open to it again.

As for his current wife, Robyn, she expressed on a 2024 episode that she would consider plural marriage again, but only if she could be sure it would be a positive and successful experience.

Willow Smith sparked a conversation about non-monogamy on the show Red Table Talk. In a 2021 episode, she explained that polyamory is about creating relationship styles that work for individuals, rather than simply conforming to traditional monogamy. She believes that infidelity often stems from unmet needs within a relationship, asking if one partner should suppress their desires to match another’s. Jada Pinkett Smith and co-host Adrienne Banfield-Norris listened as Willow shared her perspective. Interestingly, Willow noted that 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, the only opinions that truly matter are those of the people involved. 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 a partnership between two or more people. However, she emphasizes that honesty, communication, and trust are essential in any relationship, and ultimately, what people choose to do is a personal matter.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen a lot of conversations lately about Ne-Yo and his relationships, and honestly, he’s pretty unfazed by the public’s opinion. He recently shared on Instagram that he doesn’t really concern himself with what others think of his polyamorous relationships – and he meant it! After nearly seven years of marriage, his divorce from Crystal Renay was finalized last year, and he’s now openly introduced his four girlfriends to the world. It’s a bold move, and he seems completely comfortable living life on his own terms.

Ne-Yo recently shared on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that his approach to relationships – being honest, consensual, and open with everyone involved – is working for him. He feels that being upfront from the start could have saved him a lot of stress and pain. However, he emphasized that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. He’s simply explaining what brings him happiness and peace of mind. He doesn’t need or expect others to agree with his choices, but he’s happier than ever and that’s what matters most. He’s doing this for himself, not to convince anyone else.

Nick Cannon has recently been in the news for having children with multiple women, but he’s spoken about his views on relationships before. In a 2021 interview on The Breakfast Club, he explained that the idea of having only one partner for life is a concept rooted in European traditions. He believes the idea that a man should have only one woman is limiting, stating he doesn’t believe in owning another person, and that relationships should be about mutual exchange and procreation.

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

Cannon added that the women in his life choose to have children with him, stating, “It ain’t my decision. I’m following suit.”

Bella Thorne is currently in a monogamous relationship with her fiancé, Mark Emms, but she previously explored 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. She valued the intimacy of sharing experiences with more than one partner.

Thorne acknowledged that this lifestyle wasn’t for everyone, explaining that she would openly communicate her preferences to potential partners. She stated that she understood if someone wasn’t comfortable with it, prioritizing her own happiness and seeking partners who were on board with her relationship style. If a partner couldn’t accept this, she recognized it simply meant they weren’t a good match at that time.

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

In a 2020 interview with Attitude, musician Dominic Harrison—also known as Dominic Harrison—said he now identifies as polyamorous. He explained that he didn’t understand his sexuality before, but through meeting people and discussing sexuality and gender, he realized how he felt. He said, ‘I was learning… and realizing, maybe this is who I am.’

I’m a huge fan of Bob the Drag Queen, and I was so fascinated by what she shared on Boyfriend Material With Harry Jowsey! She’s got two partners – one in LA and one in Georgia – and they actually get along, which is amazing. What I really loved is that she’s completely comfortable with them also having their own relationships. She explained that she’s a really independent person and honestly, the thought of being someone’s ‘everything’ feels exhausting to her. She sees having partners who have partners as a gift, and honestly, I totally get it! It sounds like a really healthy and freeing way to do relationships.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by relationships that defy convention, and Nico Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers’ journey is a perfect example. They initially described their 12-year relationship as queer polyamorous – they preferred to think of it as a love that wasn’t defined by labels, but simply evolved organically. It wasn’t a pre-planned lifestyle, but something that naturally unfolded. However, like many couples, their relationship shifted during the pandemic. With the arrival of their children, Kilmer and Pesce Pearl, they moved towards monogamy. On a recent episode of their podcast, Full of Shift, they confirmed they aren’t currently practicing non-monogamy. But, and this is key, they haven’t ruled out the possibility of revisiting that openness in the future. They’re keeping an open mind, which I think is beautifully honest and relatable – relationships are fluid, and what works at one stage of life might not work at another.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the conversation around modern relationships, and Omarion recently shared some really insightful thoughts on the topic. He believes that traditional monogamy isn’t necessarily the best fit for everyone, and he’s a big advocate for open relationships. He explained on Sherri that he feels it’s important to be honest about wanting more than one connection. His reasoning? Well, he points out there are simply more women than truly ‘good’ men, and men have a natural desire to contribute to the next generation. He feels it’s unrealistic to expect one man to fulfill all of a woman’s needs, considering family obligations and broader responsibilities. He sees this as less of a radical idea and more of an ‘upgrade’ to outdated relationship norms, and he’s hoping to spark more open dialogue. Ultimately, he believes honesty about these desires empowers women to make informed choices and truly understand a man’s needs and intentions, because let’s face it, understanding men can be complex! He feels it’s about acknowledging a natural drive to connect and contribute, and having the courage to talk about it.

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2026-05-10 16:48