Ne-Yo has been very vocal during the fight to end systemic racism, using his platform to promote networks that could use our help in this revolutionary time. He was present for George Floyd's final funeral at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas, singing for the audience before making a statement that did not sit well with people.
During his time on the stage, Ne-Yo spoke about George Floyd, referring to him as a "sacrifice."
"50 states are protesting at the same time, this man changed the world," he started. "I just want to thank George Floyd for the sacrifice so my kids can be alright. I appreciate the sacrifice, I really do."
The man was visibly shaken during his acapella performance of Boyz II Men's song "It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday." While the moment was raw, social media is unimpressed with his choice of words.
"Me after checking to see why Neyo is trending," wrote one person on Twitter after noticing that the singer was listed among the Trending Topics. "Neyo said what? Sacrifice?!!!!" said another.
It's clear to see why people are angry but Ne-Yo likely did not mean any harm from this statement. He has been very active on social media and in real life as we all fight for change.
Ne-Yo, Aminé, Teyana Taylor & More Bring New Heat To Our "R&B Season" Playlist
We’ve got tons of new tunes to satisfy your R&B needs on our “R&B Season” playlist, including fresh releases from Ne-Yo, Aminé, Teyana Taylor, and more.
Our “R&B Season” playlist is looking fresh as ever with tons of new additions, including some joints from Ne-Yo & Jeremih, Aminé, Teyana Taylor, 6LACK, and many more. We know it’s been a very tough week for everyone in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by police and subsequent protests, and we want to continue to be a source of comfort and healing through music.
Among our additions to “R&B Season” is D Smoke and SiR’s powerful new song, “Let Go,” which sheds some light and perspective on this recent police killing, as well as the racist reality that Black folks face every day. At the end of his second verse, D Smoke raps, “I wrote this the day they killed George Floyd/We won’t forget your story.”
Among the many other tracks that might offer you some solace in these difficult times is a new collaboration from Ne-Yo and Jeremih, titled, “U 2 Luv.” We’ve also got Aminé’s new single, “Riri,” joining the ranks, as well as Teyana Taylor’s “Bare Wit Me.” 6LACK also dropped his new track, “ATL Freestyle,” which you’ll find among our batch of new additions to “R&B Season.” Check out the rest of our updated “R&B Season” playlist below, stay safe, and take care of yourselves.
Follow our Wake & Bake playlist here.
Follow our G.O.O.D. Music playlist (for a GOOD ASS FRIDAY) here.
Ne-Yo Talks Relationship With Crystal Smith: "Never Did I Say I Didn’t Love Her"
Ne-Yo announced earlier this year that he and his wife Crystal Smith had broken up, but the quarantine made him realize the important relationships in his life.
After news reports circulated that Ne-Yo and his wife Crystal Smith had split, it was surprising to hear that divorce documents had been filed. The couple has been married for four years and seemed to be happily in love, but no one knows what goes on behind closed doors because they’ve managed to keep their personal life private. Ne-Yo shared the news in February while discussing his relationship status on a podcast, but soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to normal life as we knew it. The Grammy Award-winning singer-producer recently told Kendra G that the quarantine made him re-evaluate the important relationships in his life, including the one with his wife, Crystal Smith.
Tasos Katopodis / Stringer / Getty Images
“When you are faced with a pandemic, when you see people dying daily, bunches of people dying all the time, it really puts things into perspective for you,” the singer said. “Who’s there for you regardless of whatever. I have a handful of people like that on the face of the planet. So, when this thing went down and all of a sudden it ain’t safe to be outside, I said to myself, okay, if I gotta be inside, I wanna be inside with people that I know love beyond a shadow of a doubt and that I love beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
“Regardless to what me and Crystal was going through at the time, never did I ever say that I didn’t love her,” Ne-Yo continued. “I never had anything negative to say about her.” He added that even his latest single “Pinky Ring” that seems to address his divorce and newly-almost -single life wasn’t a diss record to his wife. “I didn’t say anything foul about her the whole time. It was just a record about what I was going through at the time and how I chose to deal with it.” Watch Ne-Yo discuss his relationship with his wife below.
Ne-Yo & Nick Cannon Debate Hypothetical "Verzuz" Between Usher & Justin Timberlake
Ne-Yo and Nick Cannon discussed the possibility of a “Verzuz” battle between Usher and Justin Timberlake, and who they think would take the crown.
The Verzuz trend is far from being over. What launched during COVID-19 quarantine has turned into a lucrative business for Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, and it’s expected to roll on even after these “Stay Home” ordinances are lifted. We’ve watched a number of our favorite hitmaking artists and producers face-off in Instagram Live Battles, but there are still a few favorites that we’re hoping will hop on the Verzuz train. While chatting with Nick Cannon recently, Ne-Yo—who went up against mega-producer Johnta Austin—shared that he’d like to see Usher and Justin Timberlake hop on a Live. Nick and Ne-Yo then debated who would come out on top.
Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images
“I think Usher gon’ body him, just hit-for-hit wise,” Nick Cannon said. “If he can bring N’SYNC in then that’s a different…but if it’s just hit-for-hit…cause I mean, Usher just got more albums.” Ne-Yo wasn’t so quick to jump the gun and call Usher the victor. “I don’t know, though,” he said. “I feel like it would be an entertaining battle.” Nick enthusiastically agreed.
With so many unexpected artists and producers agreeing to these battles, we just may see Usher and Justin Timberlake one day. Until then, we’ll be tuned in this weekend on May 9 to watch Erykah Badu and Jill Scott celebrate neo-soul for the culture. Get your incense and headwraps ready. Check out Ne-Yo speaking with Nick Cannon below.
Ne-Yo Appears To Have Changed His Mind On Divorcing Crystal Renay
Ne-Yo filed for divorce against Crystal Renay but it looks like he has changed his mind.
Ne-Yo and Crystal Renay have been going through a very public breakup as of late and up until a few weeks ago, it was believed that the two were estranged with absolutely no chance of getting back together. In fact, Ne-Yo filed the divorce papers himself and said their relationship was “irretrievably broken.” Well, it seems like things have changed dramatically over the last little while as Ne-Yo has had a change of heart.
According to Bossip, Ne-Yo has gone to the judge in charge of his divorce and has asked them to dismiss the case completely, without prejudice. Essentially, Ne-Yo no longer wants a divorce from Renay although he is allowed to refile all of the paperwork should things go down the drain.
Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
For now, a reason has not been given as to why Ne-Yo decided to change course so dramatically. However, rumors have been circulating as of late that the two have been spending time together in quarantine and are helping each other raise their two kids. With this in mind, perhaps they were able to use the time to repair their relationship. Of course, this is simply conjectured although it could explain why Ne-Yo is no longer interested in divorce.
Stay tuned for updates on this situation as we will be sure to bring them to you.
[Via]
Ne-Yo’s Estranged Wife, Crystal Smith, Is House Hunting
Crystal Smith is looking for a home to make her own, away from her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ne-Yo.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Ne-Yo, and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Crystal Smith’s marriage is coming to an end after four years, and Crystal is looking forward to moving out their home in the near future. Just last month, the two were hinting to the general public that their relationship was coming to a close, and now, just weeks, later both parties have been celebrating their upcoming divorce as if they won the Super Bowl. After originally meeting in 2015, the “On Ur Mind” singer and his estranged wife wed the following year. Throughout their half a decade relationship, the two were blessed to have two beautiful children in Shaffer Smith Jr (born 2016) and Roman Alexander-Raj Smith (born 2018). While Smith has claimed that Ne-Yo is an amazing father despite the status of their relationship, she’s ready to move on and his currently in the hunt of a home to call her own. 
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Crystal Smith took to her Instagram Story to reveal that she is currently house hunting, posting a Boomerang video of a photo of a lavish two-story home in Georgia, according to The Blast. Some of her additional Instagram Story content included a joint rolling presentation, a text post that read “Attention < Respect,” a coronavirus awareness parody song, videos of her children, and more.
Since their split, both parties have been enjoying their new single status. Ne-Yo has been spotted partying with a head-turning bellydancer and multiple models, while Crystal Smith was caught getting close with Ryan Henry of Black Ink Crew: Chicago. Crystal Smith has also returned Ne-Yo’s wedding ring which prompted him to produce a track entitled “Pinky Ring,” promising he will turn his soon-to-be ex-wife’s wedding ring into a pinky ring.
Neither party has yet to file for divorce, but Crystal Smith appears to have fully moved on as she is currently looking to purchase a home for her and her two children. You can view her Instagram Story, here, and check out one of her latest Instagram posts in the photo provided below.
Ne-Yo Thirsts Over Soon To Be Ex-Wife’s Instagram Post
Ne-Yo likes an Instagram post from his soon to be ex-wife, Crystal Smith.
Ne-Yo recently liked an Instagram post fro his soon-to-be ex-wife, Crystal Smith. Last month, the couple dropped several hints that their relationship was coming to an end and then Smith took things to the next level with a series of Instagram Story videos proclaiming her “bad b*tch” status to the world as a single woman. Ne-Yo and his estranged wife originally met in 2015 and wed the following year. Throughout their four-year marriage, they had two children Shaffer Smith Jr (born 2016) and Roman Alexander-Raj Smith (born 2018). Now, what was once a blissful relationship has Ne-Yo cyberstalking his future ex-wife Instagram posts. 
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
The photo posted this past Wednesday features Smith rocking a plain grey, v-neck t-shirt as she hypnotizingly gazes into the camera. The post features a short caption that reads, “Character is shown when your world flips upside down. Grace is how you move after… #Solid,” followed by hair and makeup credits. The “Genesis” singer quickly liked the photo within hours of it being posted.
Since their announcement of their divorce, Ne-Yo has been spotted partying on multiple occasions. Once with an eye-catching bellydancer and another instance with multiple models. That hasn’t stopped Crystal from enjoying her new-found single status, the aspiring entertainer was recently spotted getting close to Black Ink Crew: Chicago‘s very own Ryan Henry.
While Ne-Yo might have taken some shots at Crystal Renay in his new song, “Pinky Ring,” discussing turning his soon-to-be ex-wife’s wedding ring into a pinky ring, Crystal Smith has returned the ring claiming not to be “money petty.” Notwithstanding the recent jabs, Smith has revealed that despite the status of her relationship with Ne-Yo, he’s truly earned the title as a great father.
According to The Blast, Crystal Smith has yet to officially file for divorce. Check out her Ne-Yo liked Instagram photo in the post provided below.
Ne-Yo Says Ex-Wife Returned Ring Because She’s Not "Money Petty"
Ne-Yo & Crystal Smith recently confirmed that they’re planning to divorce, and he talked about the split with Joe Budden on “Pull Up.”
Not long after announcing that he and his wife Crystal Smith planned to divorce, Ne-Yo stepped back into the music scene with a brand new single “Pinky Ring” featuring O.T. Genasis. The superproducer-singer-songwriter and his ex have been cordial in the media and during his visit to Pull Up with Joe Budden, Ne-Yo expounded on his personal life.
Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images
“‘Pinky Ring’ is a song about taking lemons and turning them into lemonade,” the singer said. “It is about a situation that anybody can use as an excuse to be down and feel a way, but instead, taking it and letting it be a positive thing. Not allowing it to bring you down.” Joe didn’t seem too satisfied with the answer and wanted to know what Ne-Yo did that led to the breakup with his wife.
“Without incriminating myself, without incriminating her and without putting any negative connotation on this… I will say that neither one of us was exactly who we needed to be in order for this to last, and that’s why it didn’t. Bottom line,” Ne-Yo said. “That’s what it was. I own mine, she owns hers, and the craziest thing is there’s no beef, there’s no animosity, there’s no love lost because we both understand that.”
Budden wasn’t convinced that there’s no beef between Ne-Yo and Crystal and called the singer “oblivious to what’s going on.” Ney-Yo disagreed. Budden later talked about his struggle with getting his engagement ring back from his ex-fiancé Cyn Santana and was surprised to hear that Crystal gave her wedding ring to Ne-Yo without a problem. Budden revealed he had to legally wait for the courts to rule on the matter.
According to Ne-Yo, Crystal isn’t the type of person who would hold onto something in order to get back at him or make things difficult. “She’s never been petty like that,” Ne-Yo added. “She’s never been money petty like that. That’s not her.” Watch Ne-Yo and Joe Budden chop it up on Pull Up below.
Ne-Yo Enjoys The Single Life By Partying With Models: Report
Ne-Yo is not holding back from celebrating bachelorhood after recent divorce from Crystal Smith.
Ne-Yo’s divorce from Crystal Smith was confirmed a few weeks ago and he has been giving us excuses to use the “Mr. Independent” pun ever since (a play on his 2008 hit “Miss Independent”, for those who didn’t catch on). Just a few days after this news was made official, Ne-Yo was spotted getting jiggy with belly dancers at a hookah bar. Now, another sighting of Ne-Yo celebrating the single life has been reported.
According to Page Six, the 40-year-old singer was partying it up at the Paradise Club inside NYC’s Edition hotel for the launch of Macy’s Good Brother Apparel. Ne-Yo himself posted photos from the evening on his Instagram page. If it wasn’t clear how much he was enjoying himself based on how hard he was smiling in the shots, he captioned them, “Better than I’ve ever been.” Being surrounded by (at least) five models and sipping Courvoisier cognac in a VIP section til 4 AM will have you feeling like that. Page Six‘s source also shared that Ne-Yo performed his new bachelor anthem, “Pinky Ring”, which features O.T. Genasis. “He was in good spirits, having fun with his friends and repeated the lyrics ‘turn wedding ring into a pinky ring’ while on stage,” said the witness.
Ne-Yo spoke on his split from Smith on the Private Talk podcast. “It’s not a sad thing,” he explained. “Long story short, I’m never gonna talk bad about her. I’m not that person. There’s nothing bad to say about her. She’s a fantastic woman. She’s the mother of my children and she’s always gonna be that. Long story short, she’s got demons just like everyone else, just like me. We realized our demons don’t mesh and until the both of us get ahold of our personal demons, it’s gonna be just difficult for us to stay married. That’s the end of that chapter, not the end of that book. Like I said, that’s the mother of my kids and I love her to death. We’re gonna be family forever.”
Ne-Yo Parties With Belly Dancer After Confirming Divorce
Ne-Yo shared some Instagram stories of himself and a few female friends partying with a belly dancer at a hookah bar amid his split from wife Crystal Smith.
Ne-Yo is basking in his bachelor-ism now that he and wife Crystal Smith announced their split, as the singer was busy partying at a hookah bar complete with belly dancers with some female friends this week. The recently single man shared some videos on his Instagram story showing various female friends of his having the time of their lives with one of the belly dancers at a hookah bar on Tuesday night. The first few clips show the women imitating the belly dancer's traditional moves and admiring her skills. In the last story, Ne-Yo got an up-close shot of one of his pals twerking in some red leggings.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Ne-Yo's wild night out follows his recent confirmation of his impending divorce from wife Crystal Smith. It had been speculated that the two of them had parted ways as they both seemed to be dropping hints that they were no longer together. After Crystal revealed that they had, in fact, split, Ne-Yo went on former adult film star Alexis Texas' podcast, Private Talk to confirm the rumours and explain what happened.
View this post on Instagram“It’s not a sad thing," he emphasized. "Long story short, I’m never gonna talk bad about her. I’m not that person. There’s nothing bad to say about her. She’s a fantastic woman. She’s the mother of my children and she’s always gonna be that. Long story short, she’s got demons just like everyone else, just like me. We realized our demons don’t mesh and until the both of us get ahold of our personal demons, it’s gonna be just difficult for us to stay married. That’s the end of that chapter, not the end of that book. Like I said, that’s the mother of my kids and I love her to death. We’re gonna be family forever.” Ne-Yo isn't the only one of them that has been living it up post-breakup, either: Crystal was recently spotted partying with star of Black Ink Crew: Chicago, Ryan Henry.
