NE-YO likes to be open and honest with his kids.
The singer, born Shaffer Chimere Smith, revealed on a recent episode of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that he is transparent with his seven kids about his polyamorous relationship style.
When asked if his kids have questions about his unconventional dating life, NE-YO, 45, said, “Of course they do. And I answer them. Honestly. Again, I’m not lying to nobody, not even my children.”
He added, “It’s like, ‘Hey, this is daddy’s girlfriend. And so is that, and so is that. And so is that.’ ”
The “Let Me Love You” singer said that each of his partners has a role in his household. He continued to say of his conversation with his children, ” ‘She gonna make you some cereal. She gonna cook lunch. And she gonna wash your clothes.’ And it’s all good.”
“It’s family,” NE-YO insisted. “It’s community. That’s what it’s about.”
NE-YO welcomed his first daughter Madilyn Grace in 2010 and son Mason Evan in 2011 with his former fiancée, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Monyetta Shaw-Carter. He also shares three children with his ex-wife Crystal Renay: Shaffer Chimere Jr., born in 2016, Roman Alexander-Raj, born in 2018, and Isabella Rose, born in 2021.
The Grammy winner shares his youngest kids, Braiden and Brixton — who were born in 2021 and 2023, respectively — with influencer Sade Jenea Bagnerise.
Elsewhere in his morning show appearance, NE-YO confirmed that he currently has four girlfriends. As for how he manages the relationships, he said, “It’s not about juggling. It ain’t about juggling. The key ingredient to making it work is honesty. Everybody gotta be telling the truth, you know what I mean?”
Addressing a recent photo that showed him standing with three women, the singer said, “There’s four of them total. There were just three there that particular night. It works. It works. Everybody’s honest, everybody’s telling the truth. Everybody’s consenting.”
NE-YO continued to allude to his past relationships, saying, “I feel like I wasted a lot of time just being dishonest about things to the point where had I taken this approach initially, I could have saved myself a lot of headache and heartache.”
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In July 2022, Renay announced her split from NE-YO in a fiery Instagram caption that accused him of cheating. “8 years. 8 years of lies and deception,” she wrote in her post. “8 years of unknowingly sharing my life and my husband with numerous women who sell their bodies to him unprotected…every last one of them!”
“To say I’m heartbroken and disgusted is a[n] understatement,” she continued. “To ask me to stay and accept it is absolutely insane. The mentality of a narcissist. I will no longer lie to the public or pretend that this is something it isn’t. I choose me, I choose my happiness and health and my respect.”
On Sunday, Feb. 23, NE-YO shared a photo of his youngest son Brixton on Instagram in celebration of his second birthday.
“HAPPY BDAY TO MY BABY BOY,” the proud dad wrote while sharing several photos of the toddler smiling while playing with a toy car. “I’m blessed to be your father. DADDY LOVES YOU!!!!”
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