Ne-Yo Explains How Quarantine Saved His Marriage To Crystal Smith

BY Erika Marie 5.1K Views
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Ne-Yo, Crystal Smith
The singer said in the past, if they had a conflict, he would just leave, but under quarantine, he was forced to confront their issues.

They were almost a couple who joined the dozens of other celebrities who ended their marriages during the pandemic, but Ne-Yo and Crystal Smith were able to persevere. It seems as if with each new week that passes, another seemingly happily married couple announces their divorce. Most recently, that news came courtesy of Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet, a Hollywood pairing that many can't believe are calling it quits.

In early 2020, Ne-Yo confirmed the rumors that he and his wife Crystal Smith were planning to divorce. He released a song, "Pinky Ring," to set forth his new single life, but later, he and Crystal opted to work things out.

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In a recent interview with Essence, Ne-Yo explained how quarantine forced them to confront issues and communicate.

“What the quarantine did was kind of force us to sit down and have these really uncomfortable discussions that we, honestly, would not have had otherwise,” Ne-Yo said. “We would’ve never had the patience to sit in each other’s face and really just talk about what we don’t like about each other. If I’ve got an excuse to be gone, I’m gone, just to avoid the conflict."

The pandemic “made us face the conflict head-on and what that did is basically strengthen us because now, I don’t have to pull punches when I talk to you. You know exactly where I stand. I know exactly where you stand and through that we’ve decided to keep going and it’s a more genuine feel to what it is we’re doing now.”

The singer and his wife welcomed their quarantine baby girl, Isabella, in July 2021. She is their third child together, but Ne-Yo's fifth, and he said he's done after this one. Check out "Pinky Ring" below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.