Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@neyo
Topics: Celebrity, Sex and Relationships, Parenting, Music
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Celebrity, Sex and Relationships, Parenting, Music
American singer Ne-Yo has opened up about how he told his children about his polyamorous relationships with four different women.
The 45-year-old 'Miss Independent' singer appeared on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show on Friday (21 February) where, during a Q&A session with fans, he was asked if his kids have questions about his romantic life.
Ne-Yo - real name Shaffer Chimere Smith - has seven children in total. He shares two, Madilyn, 14, and Mason, 13, with his ex-fiancé, Monyetta Shaw-Carter.
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He also shares three children named Shaffer, eight, Roman, six, and Isabella, three with his ex-wife, Crystal Renay.
And he shares his youngest two children, Braiden, three, and Brixton, two, with influencer Sade Jenea Bagnerise.
On the show, when asked about his children's questions on his love life, he responded: "Of course they do.
"And I answer them. Honesty. I’m not lying to anybody, not even my children. Like, 'Hey this is daddy’s girlfriend, and so is that, and so is that, and so is that'."
Ne-Yo also shared how his partners have sometimes looked after his kids, continuing: "She’s going to make you some cereal, and she’s going to cook lunch, and she’s going wash clothes, and it’s all good.
"It’s family. It’s community."
Confirming he is dating four women, Ne-Yo explained why he doesn't reckon he's 'juggling' relationships.
"The key ingredient to making it work is honesty. Everyone’s got to be telling the truth," he went on. "It works. Everybody’s honest, everybody’s telling the truth. Everybody’s consenting.
"I feel like I wasted a lot of time just being dishonest about things to the point where had I taken this approach initially, I could’ve saved myself a lot of headache and heartache."
Explaining he's also not 'manipulating' or 'brainwashing' anyone involved, Ne-Yo added: "I set it out there. 'Here’s what it is. I like you, but I also like her, and her, and her. If you cool with that - come on, we gonna have a great time'."
Last week, Ne-Yo directly responded to criticism about his polyamorous relationship after being papped with three of his partners: influencer Arielle Hill, and two OnlyFans models, who go by the names Phoenixx Feather and Bella on social media - all of which have each other's Instagram handles tagged in their bios.
Taking to his Instagram story, Ne-Yo wrote: "Them: 'NEYO WE DON'T APPROVE OF YOUR POLY RELATIONSHIP'.
"Fun fact: I don't care."
Fair enough. At least we know where he stands on the issue.