5 Celebrities Who Have Discussed Their Polyamorous & Open Relationships

Polyamorous and open relationships are becoming increasingly common. A 2021 study found that one in 22 people surveyed considered themselves to be in a consensual, non-monogamous relationship, with a further one in six willing to try polyamory. There are more famous faces than you might think who have embraced poly and open relationship lifestyles too, with the likes of Willow Smith, Mo'Nique, and Shailene Woodley speaking publicly about their experiences.

But what is polyamory? And what does an open relationship mean? The two may sound similar, but they're different. Polyamorous (aka poly) and open relationships differ depending on the people in them, though poly usually refers to three or more people in one relationship who (usually) all engage in sexual activity and create meaningful emotional connections. Open relationships, which have their fair share of misconceptions, tend to refer to two people in a relationship who agree they can explore other connections, with a focus being primarily on physical exploration. Their experiences with others are often sexual, but the couple stays committed to only one another. However, the lines can be blurred, as it's possible to be in an open, polyamorous relationship.

Mo'Nique and Sidney Hicks's marriage has been anything but traditional since they tied the knot in 2006. The two proudly shared details of their open relationship on their podcast series, "Mo'Nique & Sidney's Open Relationship," which ran from 2016 until 2018. Mo'Nique revealed in the first episode that she asked Hicks to consider polyamory because she wanted to date him and another man. "No one knew it wasn't Sidney's idea to have an open marriage. It was mine," she said, admitting she initially didn't want Hicks to see other women. "That was very hard for me," she said. Mo'Nique also revealed that their definition of an open marriage has evolved over the years, particularly after they welcomed their children. "There's not a whole lot of ménage à trois and all of that, in fact, none," Hicks explained.

Mo'Nique also spoke about the dynamics of their relationship with The New York Times in 2007. "We have an agreement that we'll always be honest, and if sex happens with another person, that's not a deal breaker for us, that's not something where we'll have to say, 'Oh God, we've got to go to divorce court because you cheated on me.' Because we don't cheat," she said.

Former Disney star Bella Thorne began a polyamorous relationship with YouTube star Tana Mongeau and musician Mod Sun in 2017. Thorne and Mongeau split in February 2019, but she continued to date Mod Son for a further two months. Thorne spoke about the realities of practicing ethical non-monogamy to Cosmopolitan in 2019, explaining, "It's a really fun experience and I have been able to capture that a couple times, and I just love that idea. I love loving two people at once. I love sharing stories with three people in one room. So, I'm always trying to find ways to make it work because I think it really would make me happy." Thorne also spoke about broaching the subject with potential partners, admitting some were against the idea but became more open after an honest discussion. "At first they're like, gasp, 'How do you even do that?' And then we talk it through and they're like, 'Wow, that actually sounds kind of beautiful,'" she said.

But Thorne hasn't exclusively been interested in poly romances. In May 2023, she got engaged to Mark Emms after what appeared to be a more traditional, closed relationship. Thorne spoke to People about planning their nuptials in December 2023, sharing, "It's really like, 'Oh wow, we're really, you're my partner.' Let's do this together. So that kind of becomes more real every day, and kind of solidifies our partnership more and more every day."

"Divergent" star Shailene Woodley confirmed in a 2020 The New York Times interview that she had been in an open relationship and had no issue with people defining their connections however they want to — as long as there's plenty of communication. "There has to be a level of responsibility in any relationship dynamic, and that responsibility is simply honesty and communication and trust," she shared. "Apart from that, it's really none of our business what people choose to do with their lives," she added. We couldn't agree more.

Woodley has been in both open and closed relationships, but seemingly carried her desire for not choosing the norm into her former romance with football player Aaron Rogers. The now exes never publicly labeled things as open or polyamorous, though a source told People in 2021, "They have a different, non-traditional relationship."

Willow Smith got candid about her polyamorous lifestyle during a 2021 "Red Table Talk" discussion with mom, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and grandmother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. "With polyamory, I feel like the main foundation is the freedom to be able to create a relationship style that works for you and not just stepping into monogamy because that's what everyone around you says is the right thing to do," she said. "I was like, how can I structure the way that I approach relationships with that in mind?" The "Whip My Hair" hitmaker added that embracing a poly lifestyle wasn't about sexuality for her and dispelled some of the misconceptions surrounding the idea. "Practicing monogamy has to be a choice that you make, just like practicing polyamory," she said. "It can't be because I'm told I'm supposed to do it this way. That, my dear, is deeply antiquated and no longer works."

Willow's openness about her private life followed in the footsteps of her parents, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, who have been candid about their high-profile relationship on multiple occasions. Pinkett-Smith was once forced to shut down chatter that their marriage was open, telling People in 2023 that it only looked that way because they took breaks from each other they didn't make public.

"Younger" and "Scream 4" actor Nico Tortorella has been very honest about his experience with polyamory, explaining it came naturally in his relationship with Bethany Meyers. "We became polyamorous without ever really trying, and we let each other go so often; I guess we finally realized it's the reason we are impenetrable," he told Them in 2018. Tortorella also spoke to Cosmopolitan two years earlier about his and Meyers's unconventional relationship, describing it as "queer polyamorous." He added, "I think that an open relationship or a polyamorous relationship or an understanding of sorts is acceptable in this day and age. And I've been in those relationships and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't."

Tortorella and Meyers went on to discuss the realities of their poly romance in a joint interview with ABC News in 2019, where Tortorella explained their life behind closed doors, "It's the ability to create space for more than one person at any given point." Meyers elaborated on the complications that can come with practicing polyamory, noting, "Sometimes I get a little bit jealous but jealousy is something that I often have to practice."