Ne-Yo shares why he is in a polyamorous relationship and wants multiple girlfriends

Ne-Yo has given a pretty candid explanation about his polyamorous relationship with three women, after admitting that not everyone quite understands how the whole thing works.

The 46-year-old singer, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, has spoken several times about his non-traditional set-up after previously going public with multiple partners on social media.

He is currently in a relationship with Cristina (aka ‘Pretty Baby’ as her nickname), Arielle Hill (aka ‘Twin Flame’), and Moneii (aka ‘Phoenix Feather', having recently celebrated around three years with them in an Instagram tribute. While he’s been very open about being together with multiple women at once, including telling his seven kids about it, the non-traditional relationship has even cost him work at times.

There was a fourth woman involved in the relationship, Brionna (aka ‘Sexy Lil’ Somethin’), but has recently left the relationship, has reportedly left the relationship — as reported by outlets like Metro.

The singer has insisted honesty is central to the arrangement (Johnny Nunez/Contributor/Getty Images)

During a new appearance on Sherri, titular host Sherri Shepherd asked the question a lot of people have been wondering.

As shown in a clip shared on X (formerly Twitter), she said: "You are in a polyamorous relationship with three women….Now, Neil, I've always wondered, I just don't understand how this works".

Ne-Yo then explained that his approach to relationships changed after his split from ex-wife Crystal Renay.

He explained: "So after my very public, very ugly divorce, I made the decision that I was never going to tell another lie to a woman ever again in life".

"I own the things that I did in that marriage to mess it up. I own it completely, and I decided I didn't want to be the reason that anybody ever felt like that ever again."

The Miss Independent singer said he was upfront with one of the women he had been seeing for longer than the others, explaining exactly where he stood.

He recalled: "I basically went to her and said ‘listen, you know I rock with you, you know I love you, but I have to be honest with you, it's not just you’."

"’I would love for you to meet these other women, and if we can figure out a way to do something together, cool. If not, that's cool too’...I let her decide, I let them choose. Everybody chose to stick around."

The celebrity then clarified that he does not see the arrangement as separate romances.

A fourth woman, Brionna (nicknamed Sexy Lil’ Somethin’) used to be involved in the relationship, as wel (Paras Griffin/Contributor/Getty Images)

Ne-Yo said: "I think the main understanding is I'm not in three relationships. I'm in one relationship with three people."

The singer also revealed how occasions like Valentine’s Day work, explaining that he cannot treat all three women exactly the same because they each have different personalities.

He said: "I can't do blanket stuff like ‘Red roses for everybody!’ ‘I don't even like red roses’."

He added that the group decides together where they will go or what they will do, while each woman receives an individual gift.

However, the conversation took a turn when Sherri asked whether the women could date other men.

Ne-Yo replied: "No."

When asked why, he said: "I've made no request for exclusivity of any of these women. I've never said, if it ain't me, it ain't nothing. I've never said that. I didn't ask for them to be with me. They said they want to be with me."

He continued: "They gave me their exclusivity. Meaning if you gave it to me, it's mine."

Ne-Yo added: "I deal in partnership as opposed to ownership. I don't wanna own you, I don't wanna possess you, I want a partner in this."