Ne-Yo Says Monogamy Isn’t for Him, Opens Up About Living His Truth After Divorce.
American singer and songwriter Ne-Yo has opened up about his personal life, revealing that monogamy no longer works for him.
In a candid interview on the YouTube show Lemon Drop with Karleen Roy, the 45-year-old Grammy-winning artist shared how embracing polyamory has helped him live more authentically after his 2022 divorce from ex-wife Crystal Renay Williams.
In the episode, Ne-Yo, best known for hits like “So Sick,” discussed his evolving views on relationships, romance, and honesty. He explained that his divorce led him to embrace polyamory and live his truth, a decision he says has made him feel freer and more at peace.
“I realized that I’ve not been living my truth for a very, very long time. I’m living it now, and you could tell—my skin is glowing,” Ne-Yo shared during the conversation.
The singer explained how societal expectations about marriage and monogamy never fully aligned with his own desires.
“Society tells you that you’re supposed to be with one person. You get married and y’all supposed to be together forever,” he said.
“But I am not shitting on marriage. I’m not shitting on anyone who has figured out how to make that thing work for them. Monogamy is for you. It’s not for me.”
Ne-Yo described the weight lifted off his shoulders after he decided to stop pretending to be someone he wasn’t. Reflecting on his past, he admitted, “I spent so much time lying and trying to be somebody I wasn’t for the sake of somebody else…Complete and utter time wasted.”
He emphasized that living his truth has improved all of his relationships, even with his ex-wife, Crystal Renay. Ne-Yo revealed that they are now on friendly terms and refer to each other as “friends,” a sign of mutual respect and understanding after their difficult split.
“I don’t have to lie anymore, and I’ll be damned if I ever go back to that person that needed to lie for the appeasement of somebody else,” he said. “I’m not that no more.”
Ne-Yo’s Views on Happiness and Polyamory
For Ne-Yo, happiness is the ultimate goal in life, and he believes in pursuing it without negatively impacting others. “Striving for happiness—ain’t nothing wrong with it,” he said. “As long as my happy ain’t messing with anybody else’s happy, then I’m in the right place. I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
The Miss Independent singer’s decision to embrace polyamory comes after a tumultuous period in his personal life. Ne-Yo’s divorce from Crystal Renay Smith was finalized in 2023, following accusations of infidelity and a rocky marriage.
Crystal publicly accused Ne-Yo of cheating with other women throughout their relationship, which led to the end of their marriage.
Additionally, Ne-Yo’s former fiancée, Monyetta Shaw-Carter, who shares two children with the singer, revealed that their engagement ended in part due to Ne-Yo’s requests for threesomes.
In the months following his divorce, Ne-Yo was spotted holding hands with two women, further sparking speculation about his new approach to relationships. Ne-Yo has since expressed that embracing polyamory has brought him peace and allowed him to live more authentically.
“I don’t have to lie anymore,” Ne-Yo said, underscoring that he is now living life on his own terms. His decision to embrace polyamory has reshaped his outlook on love and relationships, and he seems to have found a sense of freedom and fulfillment that had eluded him in the past.
