Akon is living out his chart-topping hit in the most literal way possible—and he's finally ready to talk about it. The 53-year-old artist confirmed on the We Need to Talk podcast that he has multiple wives, though he's keeping the exact headcount mysterious. "I'll just leave that to your imagination," he said on the May 19 episode.
Akon's polyamorous setup comes with a specific rulebook. While he is the "only man" allowed in the relationship dynamic, his wives are explicitly forbidden from having other partners.
According to E! Online, the "Smack That" hitmaker has established a clear hierarchy. His first wife holds supreme status—she's "the queen," and "nobody violates wife No. 1. The moment they violate, [they are] out the door." He's referenced the fact that his legal wife Tomeka Thiam filed for divorce in September after nearly three decades of marriage, though he didn't clarify if she holds that position.
Akon believes his first wife shoulders the heaviest burden, having to adjust to new attitudes, mindsets, and behaviors as additional partners join the family. He insists there's an upside for everyone involved. "Oftentimes when the family is united in that way, the benefit is more for the woman than it is for the man," he explained, noting that the man "has to take care of all of them" and treat them equally.
The key to holding it together is communication. "You got to be mature enough to know that if this is the situation that I'm going to park in, I have to communicate," Akon shared. "Once y'all lay down those rules, just abide by them. It's literally that simple."
Whether fans believe polyamory is that simple remains unclear.
