“‘I Don’t Give a F—k’: Ne-Yo Claps Back at Critics Calling Him a ‘Womanizer’ Over His Polyamorous Lifestyle
Ne-Yo is done playing nice. The Grammy-winning singer and father of seven has had enough of the criticism surrounding his decision to embrace a polyamorous lifestyle following his split from ex-wife Crystal Renay. On a recent episode of the Gold Dimes podcast, the “So Sick” crooner let it be known—loud and clear—that he’s unbothered by what anyone thinks about how he chooses to live his life.
“I’m Gonna Do Me, Period”
Ne-Yo didn’t hold back during the interview, getting candid about his journey of self-discovery since his 2023 divorce. “If you know that you are not a dude that is gon’ be faithful to one woman, then don’t be with one woman. It’s really and truly that simple,” he said.
For the critics who can’t seem to let his choices go, Ne-Yo delivered a fiery response: “I so desperately need the world to know how much of a f—k I don’t give about what they think [or] about what they say. I am 100 percent locked into the reality that this life is mine and I’m [going to] live s—t the way I want to live it.”
And he’s walking the walk. In April 2024, Ne-Yo went public with his polyamorous lifestyle, making headlines when he was spotted holding hands with his two girlfriends at a Los Angeles shopping center.
“Womanizer or Free Spirit?”
While Ne-Yo’s confidence in his lifestyle is unshakable, not everyone is on board. Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, a life coach and psychologist, recently labeled him a “womanizer” on Fox Soul’s Truth Talks.
“He cheated on his wife over and over again,” she said. “Now what he’s doing as a womanizer is gaslighting himself and that wife to make it seem like he wants polyamory when he never wanted polyamory from the beginning.”
Dr. Bryant didn’t stop there, calling out his “lack of discipline” as the real reason his marriage to Renay crumbled.
Crystal Renay’s Classy Clapback
Renay, who rarely speaks about her ex, took the high road when asked about his newfound lifestyle. “If it makes you happy, I’m happy for you,” she said during an interview on The Culture Club Uncensored. However, she didn’t shy away from sharing how deeply his infidelity blindsided her.
“I felt like in my past marriage, I was living with a stranger because who I was in love with is not the person that he is now,” she explained. “That’s a scary feeling, and I don’t want to be blindsided ever again the way that I was in my past.”
Fans Weigh In: “Does He Even Make Music Anymore?”
Social media had its own thoughts on the situation. When The Jasmine Brand posted a clip of Ne-Yo’s podcast interview, one person asked, “Does he even make music anymore? This is all I ever see him talking about.”
Another chimed in with, “Obviously he feels some type of way if he has to keep defending himself about the situation!”
And then there was the question that many were thinking but hesitant to say out loud: “I’m wondering if he didn’t have what he has, would the girls still choose him???”
Ne-Yo’s Family Dynamics
The singer’s messy breakup with Renay was finalized in February 2023 after nearly eight years of marriage. The pair share three children—Shaffer Chimere Jr., 9; Roman Alexander-Raj, 6; and Isabella Rose, 3.
Ne-Yo also has two older children from a previous relationship—Madilyn Grace, 14, and Mason Evan, 13—and two younger sons with ex-girlfriend Sade Bagnerise, whom he cheated on Renay with: Braiden, 3, and Brixton, 1.
Interestingly, neither of Ne-Yo’s current girlfriends have children by him—yet.
Living Loud and Unapologetic
Love him or hate him, Ne-Yo’s unapologetic embrace of his truth is sparking heated conversations about relationships, honesty, and personal freedom. While some call him a “womanizer,” others see a man standing firmly in his truth.
Either way, one thing is clear: Ne-Yo doesn’t care what anyone thinks—and he’s not about to start now.
