Showbiz has more than its fair share of rollercoasters when it comes to love, but this musician hit the headlines thanks to his controversial – and somewhat unusual – romantic set up.
The Closer singer posted a video recently that revealed his four ‘loves’ – who apparently call him ‘Daddy.’
Ne-Yo, 45, formally unveiled his ‘pyramid’ of lovers on Instagram, saying, ‘Since the world is so intrigued, I guess I should introduce my loves properly,’ he said. He then added, 'Say something nice or move on with your life. We happy over here.'
Ne-Yo’s girlfriends include backup dancer and choreographer Brionna Williams, OnlyFans model Cristina (who goes by the name “Daddy’s Pretty Baby” on social media), her fellow OnlyFans creator Moneii
(otherwise known as Phoenix Feather) and photographer Arielle. Recent snaps of Ne-Yo with his ‘loves’ show them popping bottles in nightclubs, posing in skimpy bikinis on yachts and sharing dinner.
They’ve also jetted out to visit him on tour, making the most of their alternative set up with the superstar.
Explaining how the arrangement works, the R&B star recently revealed that he manages their schedule, because he is the busiest. ‘On this tour, I’ll let this one come out for seven days, then she’ll go home, then this one will come out for seven days, then this one comes out for seven days,’ he explained. ‘Then we’ll do something all together. It’s a beautiful thing.’
This latest revelation isn’t the first time the Because of You singer’s lovelife has caused shockwaves. Ne-Yo’s previous marriage to reality star Crystal Renay ended in divorce in February 2023, after seven years.
Taking to Instagram in 2022 she seemingly gave a nod to his wandering eye saying, ‘Eight years. Eight years of lies and deception. Eight years unknowingly sharing my life and husband with numerous women… To say I’m heartbroken and disgusted is an understatement. To ask me to stay and accept it is insane. The mentality of a narcissist. I choose me, I choose happiness and health and my respect. I gained three beautiful children out of this but nothing else but wasted years and heartache.”
She later revealed that she’d never have married him if she knew he believed in polyamory.
Crystal has since said she has ‘nothing negative’ to say about her ex, and that he’s an ‘amazing’ father to their children, Shaffer Jr, eight, Roman, six, and Isabella, two. Nevertheless, she told People, ‘I'm happy
for myself because I chose my self-worth. I chose to stand up for myself and walk away from something that just wasn't serving me any longer.’
Likewise, Ne-Yo’s former girlfriend Monyetta Shaw has also opened up about their relationship. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star dated the singer from 2009 to 2013, welcoming daughter Madilyn Grace and son Mason Evan into the world. However, they split two months before their wedding, and he allegedly wanted to have threesomes more often than she did.
‘'I'm like oh if you want that, you don't want me,’ she said. ‘You know, it was always making it seem like I'm not enough. I'm like ok well I grew up with a loving father thank God and loving mother, so I know my self- worth.’
Ne-Yo also has children Braiden, three, and Brixton, two with his former girlfriend, Sade Bagnerise. He has often been snapped sharing quality time with his kids, and speaks openly of his love for them,
saying, ‘I'm a father before I'm anything else. Not money, not fame, not even the love of the craft. I do this for them. They are my reason.'
But when he’s not spending time with his offspring, it seems he is fully, unapologetically embracing the polyamorous lifestyle. He previously told TMZ, ‘Legalizing polygamy? I didn’t know it was illegal. You should let people do whatever the hell they want to do. Can’t see how it’s hurting anybody. To be honest, I don’t need the government to tell me what I can and can’t do in my personal life.’
And it certainly seems like he’s put his money where his mouth is – showing his complex set up for the world to see on social media. He has also revealed that his girlfriends ‘all get along with each other.’ Speaking to Real 92.3, he said, ‘They have no problem hanging out with each other, but one of the most important things about this is understanding that these are four individual women that need their individual time.
Taking to Instagram, Phoenix also recently defended their unusual set- up. Alongside a caption of Ne-Yo’s getting amorous with his girlfriends on a boat, she said, ‘Yes we’re in the public eye and we know people are gonna voice their opinion that’s what’s expected but y’all need to understand over here it’s a solid foundation we understand each other we stand on 10 when it comes to each other a lot people will never understand that and that’s cool just know it’s US VS Nobody.’
Of course, the rapper isn’t the first celeb to have enjoyed multiple partners. Late Playboy boss Hugh Hefner famously surrounded himself with beautiful women and had at least three girlfriends at a time sharing his 100million Playboy Mansion in LA. Meanwhile boxer David Haye is said to have an open relationship with girlfriend Sian Osborne. Last year the pair were famously reported to be in a ‘throuple’ with Saturdays singer Una Healy, but she later explained that she’d had no romantic involvement with Sian, and was only dating David. ‘I was like, ‘You know what? I’m out. This isn’t for me. You can have him,’ she explained. ‘He can have whoever he wants, because one will never be enough for him.'
However, Ne-Yo’s complex modern set-up has certainly taken things to the next level. And even the rapper admits his lifestyle is not for everybody. Speaking again to TMZ, he said, ‘I don’t recommend
anything to anybody. What works for me might not work for you, or vice versa.’