True reality of spicy 'polycule' lifestyle as singer Ne-Yo explains how it works

Monogamy is clearly not for everyone as there seems to be more of an interest in the 'polycule' lifestyle, how it works and why Ne-Yo swears by it.

The 'Sexy Love' singer, 45, divorced from Crystal Renay back in 2023 and, earlier this year, revealed his four girlfriends on social media.

Included in his 'pyramid' are his partners Cristina ('Pretty Baby'), Arielle ('Twin Flame'), Moneii ('Phoenix Feather'), and Bri ('Sexy Lil' Somethin').

Ne-Yo - whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith - has fully embraced his polyamorous relationship while raising seven children.

The father shares three children with his ex-wife Renay, two with his ex-fiancée and reality star Monyetta Shaw-Carter, and two others with influencer Sade Jenea Bagnerise.

"One of the major challenges is time, because I don't have a lot of free time, I have seven beautiful children," he said on The Angie Martinez Show back in April.

What is the 'polycule' lifestyle?

Singer Ne-Yo has four girlfriends (DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Ashera DeRosa, a licensed marriage therapist who works with polyamorous people, told Men's Health: "A polycule is three or more people who are connected romantically and/or sexually."

There are no set rules, either people will all be dating one another, or some members might only date one person within it, as is the case with Ne-Yo's partners.

"What I say goes... and you can’t date other men," he explained.

"When I got with these women, I did not ask for their exclusivity. I did not demand their exclusivity.

"They asked for it. They came to me and said, 'I want to be exclusive to you and just you'.

"I said, 'You understand that your exclusivity to me, does not mean my exclusivity to you? You understand this, yes? You're OK with it?'"

Ne-Yo's number one rule

Ne-Yo is an advocate of the polyamorous lifestyle (Mathew Tsang/Getty Images)

The singer said the number one rule in his relationships is that they agreed not to 'lie to each other'.

"The main rule is to just keep it a buck. We're not gonna lie," he said.

"We're not gonna lie to each other. We're not gonna sit up here and blow smoke. I ain't selling no dreams, and I'm not forcing anybody to be here.

"If for whatever reason you decide this isn't for you anymore, the door is never locked.

"You have permission to go on about your business. I don't want anybody to think that I'm manipulating these women into doing something they don't want to do."

During a recent stream with YouTuber Kai Cenat, Ne-Yo admitted that 'his love life is phenomenal' and that he's 'in a great space. I have four beautiful ladies that who move with me on a regular'.