Content Advisory: This article discusses a polyamorous relationship and public criticism around adult relationship choices. Reader discretion is advised.
NE-YO says his relationship life has cost him business. The R&B singer, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, opened up about his polyamorous relationship during a recent appearance on the ‘Sorry We’re Cyrus’ podcast with Tish Cyrus and Brandi Cyrus. According to NE-YO, some people are not just judging his personal life. They are allegedly pulling away from professional opportunities because of it.
“The world is mad at the fact that I’m in a polyamorous relationship. There are people upset,” NE-YO, 46, said.
Then he got more specific.“There’s deals that I missed out on because they’re like, ‘We don’t know if we can get behind the whole polyamorous [thing],’” he said.
NE-YO Says His Relationship Has Cost Him Work
NE-YO said he does not understand why his relationship setup has become such a deal-breaker for some people.
“It’s almost like you can be a great person. You can show respect and appreciation [for your fans and colleagues], but the second you do something that they don’t agree with, canceled, you know what I mean?” he said. “And that just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
The ‘Because of You’ singer currently lives with his three partners, Arielle Hill, Cristina, and Moneii, along with their children.
He said the public tends to jump to the wrong conclusion when they hear about his home life. “We are a family. We love each other, and it’s a beautiful thing,” NE-YO said.
Singer Says People Misunderstand His Home Life
NE-YO, who has been dating his current partners for about three years, said the arrangement is not as chaotic as outsiders may assume. “It’s not as difficult as you would think,” he said.He also pushed back against the idea that the relationship is mainly about physical intimacy.
NE-YO has previously said all three women are committed to dating only him. That detail has also drawn criticism, but he insists everyone involved is there by choice. “People say the dumbest stuff, like, ‘It’s degrading.’ Degrading to who? I’m not lying to nobody. Everybody is here by choice,” he said.
NE-YO Says Divorce Changed His Approach
The ‘So Sick’ singer said his approach to relationships changed after his divorce from ex-wife Crystal Renay.
“I decided after that, I was never going to tell another lie ever again,” he said. “Even if it’s the truth that I know you don’t want to hear, you’re going to get it from me so that you can never say that I was dishonest.”
He said he was upfront with the women he was dating and gave them the choice to stay or leave. “I went to one of the three [women I was seeing] and I said, ‘Listen, you know I love you, but it’s not just you,’” NE-YO recalled. “In my perfect world, we would all coexist together. But I’m giving you the option.”
He added, “You have to let her choose if she’s okay with that. And if she is, okay, then it could be harmonious. If she’s not, then you need to walk away.”
For NE-YO, the issue seems simple: he says he is being honest, and everyone involved has agreed to the arrangement. For critics, the setup still raises questions. Either way, the singer says the backlash has already followed him into business.
