Grammy-winning R&B singer Ne-Yo has offered a candid glimpse into his unconventional love life, detailing his plans for Valentine's Day with the three women he is currently in a relationship with. The 46-year-old artist, born Shaffer Chimere Smith, discussed the intricacies of his polyamorous setup in a teaser for an upcoming episode of the Sherri talk show.
A Tailored Approach to Romance
Ne-Yo emphasised that a one-size-fits-all strategy won't work for his partners—Arielle Hill, Cristina, and Moneii. Since 2024, he has been in this polyamorous relationship, though he has since parted ways with a fourth girlfriend, Bri. "Mind you these are three different women, three different personalities—I can't do blanket stuff like 'Red roses for everybody!'" he explained. His plan involves giving each woman an individual gift that matches her personality, while the group decides together on a shared activity, such as going to one restaurant or one concert.
When host Sherri Shepherd suggested the arrangement sounded "like more work than it was worth," the three-time Grammy winner was quick to retort. "I've never been afraid of hard work, never ever," Ne-Yo stated firmly.
Defining the Relationship Dynamic
The singer, who has been dating Cristina since 2022, recalled how he introduced the concept of other partners to her. He presented it as a choice: "If we can figure out a way to do something together, cool. And if not, that's cool too. I let her decide. I let them choose." He clarified that all three women chose to stay, framing the union not as three separate relationships but as "one relationship with three people."
Ne-Yo stressed the importance of balancing group time with individual time for each partner. However, when questioned about whether his girlfriends could date other men, he took a different stance. He claimed they had given him their exclusivity, stating, "Meaning if you gave it to me, it's mine... You ain't giving it to nobody else."
Background and Current Projects
This approach to relationships follows Ne-Yo's contentious divorce from ex-wife Crystal Renay in 2023 after six years of marriage. He vowed never to "lie to another woman in life" after the split. Crystal had publicly claimed the singer secretly fathered two sons with influencer Sade Jenea Bagnerise in 2021 and 2023.
Ne-Yo is a father to five children from previous relationships. With Crystal, he shares son Shaffer, 9, son Roman, 7, and daughter Isabella, 4. He also has two teenagers—daughter Madilyn, 15, and son Mason, 14—with ex-fiancée Monyetta Shaw-Carter.
Professionally, the Arkansas-born star is currently performing in the Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen at New York's Shubert Theatre until January 25. He has even scored a nomination for Favourite Broadway Debut at the upcoming iHeartRadio Music Awards. Next, he is scheduled to perform at the Carvalheira na Ladeira festival in Olinda, Brazil, on February 16. With reported global record sales of 20 million and 44 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Ne-Yo continues to balance his prolific career with his highly publicised personal life.
