What Ne-Yo Has Shared About His Polyamorous Relationship With 3 Women

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It’s clear Ne-Yo still likes women who are strong and self-sufficient – the kind who are confident, put-together, and handle their own business. But beyond that, he needs someone who understands and accepts his unconventional lifestyle.

The musician behind “Closer” recently shared how grateful he is for his three girlfriends – Cristina, Arielle Hill, and Moneii – in an Instagram post. He wrote that most people only dream of a love where you wake up happy, feel strong, and truly enjoy life. He feels lucky that this is his reality, and he considers all three women to be wonderful blessings in his life.

Though, admittedly, he’s so sick of people weighing in with opinions about his arrangement. 

I’ve received a lot of criticism for being in a polyamorous relationship,” the 46-year-old shared on the May 7th episode of the Sorry We’re Cyrus podcast with Tish and Brandi Cyrus. “Some people are really upset about it.

The singer, who has children with three different women – Monyetta Shaw, Crystal Renay, and Sadé Jenea – explained that he’s lost out on opportunities because of his past relationships. He said some people were hesitant to work with him due to the complexities of his non-traditional relationship style, and he questioned their reaction, saying, “Okay, what’s the problem?”

Ne-Yo seems to have a good relationship with all of his partners, but his choreographer, Brionna Williams, wasn’t featured in a recent post on May 10th, despite being introduced to his five million Instagram followers last year.

The artist, Shaffer Chimere Smith, explained to Tish and Brandi how their working relationship operates, saying, ‘You really have to see it to understand.’ He continued, ‘People say ridiculous things, like it’s demeaning. But demeaning to whom? I’m honest with everyone, and everyone is here willingly.’

He explains that the key to their group’s success is simply talking openly with each other.

In 2022, Ne-Yo’s ex-wife, Crystal, filed for divorce and claimed he had been unfaithful. He initially asked for privacy, stating their issues shouldn’t be discussed publicly. However, in a March 2025 interview on BigBoyTV, he admitted he’d been dishonest and decided to change his approach. He explained that he regretted hurting people by not being truthful about things he should have been.

So now he makes it a point to be direct about exactly what he wants. 

He clarified on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show in February 2025 that he wasn’t trying to control or deceive anyone. He simply stated his feelings: ‘I’m attracted to multiple people. If you’re okay with that, let’s have fun. If not, I wish you well and we’ll part ways.’

I’ve noticed something really special about him – he’s completely honest with everyone, even his kids! Madilyn, who’s 15, Mason, 14, and even the younger ones like Shaffer, 10, Roman, 7, Isabella, 5, and the twins, Braiden and Brixton, all get it straight from him – no sugarcoating at all.

He explained that his children were being told, ‘This is Daddy’s girlfriend, and she’ll be taking care of you – she’ll make breakfast, lunch, and do your laundry.’ He felt this was a positive development.

Ne-Yo has always been honest with his girlfriends about being open to relationships with multiple people, but he says none of them have expressed a desire to become involved with other men.

He explained on The Angie Martinez Show in April 2025 that he never asked the women he was seeing to be exclusive. In fact, he said they were the ones who brought it up, telling him they wanted to be with only him. He made sure they understood that his agreement to their exclusivity didn’t mean he would be exclusive in return, and confirmed they were comfortable with that arrangement.

He emphasized his main rule for relationships: always be honest. “We’re not going to lie,” he said.

He told Rickey Smiley that if he’d been more openly honest in past relationships, he could have avoided a lot of pain and trouble.

He also said that anyone who decided they no longer wanted to participate was free to leave. “The door is always open,” he explained. “I want to be clear that I would never pressure anyone into doing something they’re not comfortable with.”

The most challenging aspect of setting up their space turned out to be ordering a very large, custom-made bed. He described it to YouTuber Kai Cenat last September as being the equivalent of two California King-sized beds put together.

Now that he’s openly embraced this lifestyle, many people are interested in it. He’s not the only celebrity exploring relationships outside of traditional norms – here’s a look at other stars who’ve discussed their non-monogamous relationships.

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 giving things a defined period of time. While some people worry that trying open relationships can lead to irreversible complications, he said they’ve managed to navigate that challenge successfully.

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 much to handle.

RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar, believe their open relationship is simply practical. In a 2024 interview with The New Yorker, RuPaul explained that traditional monogamy isn’t realistic for men. 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 strict 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 encourages embracing happiness, stating that if someone finds something irresistible, they should pursue it, because he’s certain Georges loves him above all else.

Kody Brown once believed that love should grow through addition, not division. For years, he lived this philosophy as the husband of four wives – Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, and Robyn Brown – a life documented on the reality show Sister Wives. He explained in 2010, when the show began, that he simply fell in love multiple times.

However, Kody’s feelings toward polygamy have changed. Christine and Kody separated in November 2021, followed by Janelle in December 2022, and Meri announced their permanent split a month later. Now, Robyn is his only wife.

In December 2023, Kody told People magazine that while he isn’t against plural marriage in general, his own experiences showed him it’s not always successful. He stressed the importance of careful consideration for anyone entering such a relationship, noting that even well-matched couples can struggle.

Since leaving Kody, some of his former wives have embraced monogamy. Christine married David Woolley in 2023 and has stated she would never return to polygamy. Janelle, however, remains open to the possibility. As for Robyn, she said in 2024 she would consider plural marriage again, but only if she could be certain it would be a positive experience.

Willow Smith sparked a conversation about non-monogamy during an episode of Red Table Talk. She explained that polyamory is about creating relationship styles that work for individuals, rather than simply conforming to traditional expectations. Willow argued that infidelity often stems from unmet needs within monogamous relationships, asking why one partner should restrict another from fulfilling their desires. While discussing the topic with her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, and co-host Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow also pointed out that she, as the only polyamorous person in her friend group, 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. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, the Big Little Lies star explained that she’s experienced both open and monogamous relationships and thinks couples should create their own rules – whether it’s just two people or more. She emphasized that honesty, communication, and trust are essential, but ultimately, what people choose to do in their relationships is a private matter.

Ne-Yo seems unconcerned with criticism about his relationships. In February, he shared on Instagram a message responding to disapproval of his polyamorous lifestyle, stating simply that he doesn’t care. 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 explained on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show in February 2025 that his approach to relationships—where everyone is honest, consensual, and truthful—is working for him. He wished he’d been more upfront sooner, believing it could have saved him a lot of pain. However, he stressed that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. “I’m just sharing what works for me,” he said. “If it resonates with you, great. If not, that’s okay too.” Ultimately, he’s found more happiness and peace than ever before, and that’s what matters most. He isn’t looking for approval, just living a life that works for him.

Nick Cannon has recently been in the spotlight 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 questioned the traditional idea of monogamy, calling it a concept rooted in European culture. He explained that the idea of being with one person for life is a constructed notion and that people shouldn’t ‘own’ each other. He believes relationships should be about mutual exchange and co-creation, not possession.

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

Cannon clarified that the women in his life are the ones who choose to have children with him, stating, ‘It ain’t my decision. I’m following suit,’ emphasizing that he’s responding to their willingness to open their lives to him and birth their children.

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 and sharing intimacy with more than one partner. She admitted it wasn’t for everyone, explaining that some partners were initially surprised by her preferences. Thorne emphasized that she was focused on finding what made her happiest, and while she understood if a partner wasn’t comfortable with this arrangement, she also wasn’t willing to compromise on her needs. Ultimately, she believed compatibility hinged on whether a partner could embrace her lifestyle or if it would cause them pain.

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—shared that he 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 just figuring things out by experiencing them and talking about them.’

Bob the Drag Queen is happily in two relationships, and is glad that both of their partners also have other partners. 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 values their independence and prefers not to be someone’s “everything,” finding it exhausting to be around one person constantly. They see having partners with other 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 – though they emphasized that labels weren’t defining for them. They explained that their relationship evolved naturally over twelve years, rather than being a planned decision.

However, their relationship changed during the coronavirus pandemic and after they had children, Kilmer and Pesce Pearl, becoming monogamous.

In a 2024 podcast episode, Nico confirmed they are currently not open to non-monogamy, but left the door open to potentially exploring it again in the future, saying, “Who knows?”

Omarion doesn’t believe in traditional monogamy. In a February 2025 interview on Sherri, he explained that he values openness in relationships. He believes there are simply more women than truly great men, and that men naturally have responsibilities to family and future generations. He suggests that women should be open to aligning with this reality, acknowledging that it takes a community to raise a family and that one man can’t fulfill all needs.

Omarion feels this idea isn’t new, just outdated and needing an update, and he wants to encourage more conversations about it. He believes that when men are honest about wanting more than one partner, it empowers women to make informed choices and gain a deeper understanding of men. He feels many women don’t truly understand men and that a broader discussion is needed about male desires and the importance of procreation.

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2026-05-11 20:18