Ne-Yo has proudly revealed that he thinks polygamy should be legal – but no one seems to be talking about it.
The 44-year-old Miss Independent singer was first spotted out and about hand-in-hand in Miami with two women in 2023 and then again in Los Angeles in April of this year.
He was approached by a fan in LA, who took footage later shared by TMZ, and asked about his views on dating multiple women at once as he walked along with the two women.
The person taking the video asked: ‘As an advocate of dating multiple women at once, having been married before, what are your thoughts on legalising polygamy?’
‘I feel like in the realm of love and romance you should let people do whatever the hell they want to do,’ Ne-Yo replied, ‘Can’t see how it’s hurting anybody.’
When asked more directly if polygamy should be legalised, the RnB star replied: ‘Sure, why not.’
Perhaps the most striking part of the video comes in its final seconds when the person filming asks the two women their thoughts on multiple women being married to one man. In response, both women smile and remain completely silent.
In another video, this time from August, the singer once again addresses his polyamory. When asked if he will ‘cap it’ at two girlfriends or gain more, he says: ‘No specific cap, it just depends on who I vibe with and who vibes with me.’
He then adds: ‘As many as you can afford.’
Ne-Yo, who has seven children with three different women, was previously married to Crystal Renay, 37, from 2016 to 2023. The pair divorced after Crystal accused him of being routinely unfaithful.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Crystal wrote in the wake of filing for divorce in 2022: ‘Eight years of lies and deception.’
She continued: ‘To say I’m heartbroken and disgusted is an understatement. To ask me to stay and accept it is absolutely insane.’
Ne-Yo has kids Madilyn, 13, and Mason, 12, with ex-fiancee Monyetta Shaw-Carter, and Shaffter Jr, eight, Roman, five, and Isabella, two, with Crystal, as well as with Sade Jenea Bagnerise.
Ne-Yo is undeniably a major figure in RnB and hip-hop, having received 16 Grammy nominations throughout his career, winning three, including Best Album.
As the world reckons with the reality of the allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – who was arrested in September and later charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution – there is increased scrutiny on all major figures in the industry.
So what exactly is going on with Ne-Yo?
Though Ne-Yo’s partners have appeared on his Instagram story, one wouldn’t know about their existence from a quick scroll through his social media.
In contrast, both women, whose usernames are @ariellehill and @daddys_pretty_baby__, frequently post loved-up pictures with the musician.
Both women began posting with the rapper around the same time (August 2023), with Ne-Yo first appearing on Arielle’s Instagram 72 weeks ago and daddy’s baby’s (we’ll refer to her as DB for…comfort) just a week before.
What is polygamy and why is it illegal?
Polygamy is most simply defined as having multiple spouses at one time and is illegal in most countries, including the US and the UK.
Bigamy, which is also illegal in most countries, is the act of attempting to marry a new spouse while still legally married to another.
Polyamory, which is not illegal, is having or desiring multiple intimate and often romantic/sexual relationships at the same time with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved.
According to Pew Research Center: ‘Polygamy is banned throughout much of the world, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has said that “polygamy violates the dignity of women,” called for it to “be definitely abolished wherever it continues to exist.”‘
Polygamy has been illegal in the UK since 1603.
It seems at least DB has multiple tattoos devoted to Ne-Yo, which include an abstract image of the singer on the back of her thigh, a lip tattoo of his name, and a matching heart and locket tattoo with the rapper that reads ‘5eva.’
The tattoo also says 8.24, indicating their anniversary is August 24th.
Both accompany him on trips and even spend time together, with both girlfriends appearing in multiple group pictures on Instagram.
Ne-Yo’s controversial past
Ne-Yo’s view on polygamy is not his only controversial opinion. He recently came under fire for a comment he made about sexual assault during a performance.
During a show on his Closer tour in Auckland, New Zealand, the singer said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I was sexually assaulted and I liked it. I had a great time, and I’d do it again.’
New Zealand Herald reported the comment came after he hand-picked three women from the crowd and invited them up onto the stage, ‘where they take turns in gyrating and grinding against Ne-Yo.’
It drew particular attention given the recent arrest of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 54, who has been accused of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and racketeering. Over 100 alleged victims have come forward, including a nine-year-old boy.
Ne-Yo later apologised for the remark, writing on Instagram: ‘In an attempt to be playful with my fans, I made an insensitive and irresponsible joke while on tour and I’d like to truly apologize from the bottom of my heart.
‘I have loved ones that are victims of sexual assault and have volunteered with organizations that support survivors, so I understand firsthand how my words could be triggering and traumatizing.
‘There’s absolutely no place in this world for these types of tasteless jokes and I unequivocally stand with all survivors. I take full accountability and promise to learn from this situation, grow from it and do better in the future.’
The comments came just weeks after his ex-girlfriend and mother of two of his children, Sade Bagnerise, compared him to Diddy and implied he’d been abusive towards her.
In an Instagram video from April, Sade filmed Ne-Yo and said: ‘Tell them about the freak-off, Diddy Junior.’
She continued: ‘This n***a likes to have hoes, drugs, weed, alcohol, mushrooms, and prostitutes in the house while his kids are here,’
‘Everyone has asked him to stop, but he will not listen to nobody. I even came over here to help him with these f*****g kids because he won’t watch these kids.’
Ne-Yo could be seen in the video denying Sade’s claims and asking her to leave.
She later apologised for the video, blaming it on depression and other factors.
This isn’t the first time one of Ne-Yo’s exes has spoken publicly about the singer. According to Ne-Yo’s ex-fiancee Monyetta Shaw, who he was engaged to for several years before the pair split in 2013, Ne-Yo’s preference for multiple partners is not new.
In an interview following their breakup, Shaw said Ne-Yo preferred to have threesomes and it was part of what ended their relationship. She said: ‘I didn’t sign up to do this every day.’
‘I’m very multi-faceted and that’s where I was at that time, but it became a problem when you want that, you know, a lot. I’ll give you it maybe twice a year, you know, or three times.’
She explained: ‘It was too much and I’m like, “Oh, if you want that you don’t want me”, you know? It was making it seem like I’m not enough.’
‘I know my self-worth,’ she added.
It remains to be seen if Ne-Yo will continue to add women to his roster, but for now it appears he’s successfully maintaining romantic relationships with at least two women.