Yandy Smith is opening up about one of the most talked-about aspects of her previous relationship with Mendeecees Harris, and her explanation has fans revisiting everything they thought they knew about their love story. During an Oct. 26 Social Proof Podcast appearance, the reality TV star and entrepreneur got candid about why they never officially tied the knot on paper, despite holding wedding ceremonies and building a family together over the years.
While sitting down with host David Shands, Smith explained that although she believes in love and commitment, she never felt the need to make her relationship with her now ex legally binding through the government.
“I think the union of love is a beautiful thing. I think committing to someone before God is an amazing thing. I do. I just do not want to be in business with this government,” Smith told Shands flat out when asked about her marital status. “But I got children by this man. I went home to this man every day. He came home to me every day. That’s my husband.”
Smith and Harris began their relationship in 2006 and became one of the most recognizable couples in the Love & Hip Hop franchise. For years, viewers followed their journey through relationship struggles, family milestones, legal challenges, and the ups and downs of building a life together. Their 2015 televised wedding ceremony gave off the perception that they were legally married, making the revelation that they never signed the official paperwork surprising to many fans.
Back in 2017, Smith told BOSSIP that she was considering a change of heart and planned to legally tie the knot with Mendeecees, despite previously maintaining that she only wanted to be “spiritually married” to him.
“We have definitely decided to go ahead and do the paperwork and all that stuff, not that I was so concerned or cared about that stuff, but it meant a lot to him,” said Yandy. “So it was only right.”
The reality star said the process of legally marrying Mendeecees, who at the time was serving eight years for drug trafficking, was much more difficult because of his incarceration.
“With him being away, we have to re-register, get things notarized and all that stuff,” Yandy said, adding that they still wouldn’t get conjugal visits because he’s in federal prison.
Despite never legally marrying, the former couple built a blended family that includes their two biological children, son Omare Harris, born July 16, 2012, and daughter Skylar Harris, born Jan. 26, 2015, along with Harris’ children from previous relationships and their adopted daughter.
During her conversation with Shands, Smith stressed that she wasn’t telling other people to follow her approach to relationships. Instead, she explained that her decision came down to her own experiences, personal circumstances, and concerns about the legal and financial implications of marriage.
Yandy Smith on David Shands’ Social Proof Podcast: Reality TV star said she doesn’t need a marriage certificate to prove she has a husband.
For Smith, not having a marriage certificate didn’t mean she lacked the protections or responsibilities associated with being a committed partner. She said she took steps to ensure that important arrangements were in place should an emergency occur.
“Because what we also did, I made sure – [we] had a medical proxy. If something happens to me, you’re the person they go to. You sign up. So all the benefits of being a wife, I have. A power of attorney? I have that.”
When Shands asked whether she could ever see herself getting legally married, Smith reflected on the difficult period when Harris was facing legal troubles. She admitted that her feelings for him were never the issue, but uncertainty about his potential sentence and the financial consequences of his case.
“That’s why I keep prefacing. And this is me and my own personal trauma and the things that I have seen and things that I have been through. And really, I’m telling you, I would have signed at the dotted line because I loved everything about that man. It was just that he was getting ready to be sentenced, and I did not know when I sought counsel on it, what the sentencing was going to be.”
Harris’ legal troubles were a major chapter in their relationship. In December 2015, he was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy charges. He began serving his sentence in January 2016 and was released early in January 2020.
According to Smith, the uncertainty surrounding his case left her questioning what their future might look like and what additional responsibilities could fall on her if they legally married.
“I did not know if he was going to have to pay restitution, and I did not know how child support would rear because he was going to be gone for a certain amount of time,” explained Smith. “So I did not want to have to bear the burden…unfortunately, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to see the kids that they were gonna be able to live with me. So, I didn’t want to be joined with the government, now I have all these responsibilities of his. Now, some people might feel like ‘I married this man, so whatever he got going on, that’s what I got going on too.’ That’s good for you. You might not have put the mud and the dirt and the things all over your face like I’ve had to. I wasn’t willing to put that mud and dirt back on my face to get up again,” she added.
Mendeecees Harris Also Confirmed They Were Never Legally Married
This isn’t the first time the pair have discussed their unconventional relationship. Smith’s latest remarks echo what Harris revealed in 2025 during an interview on Yung Joc & The Streetz Morning Takeover. The reality star addressed years of speculation surrounding their relationship, confirming that despite their wedding ceremonies and the public perception that they were husband and wife, the two never legally married.
“We not together. We was never legally married, so [we’re not getting divorce],” he said during the interview.
The TV personality revealed that Smith suggested not signing the marriage papers amid his legal troubles. What began as a practical decision remained in place, even after their televised wedding ceremony.
“Listen, no. I didn’t do it for TV. It was Yandy’s idea,” he explained. “In the beginning, I was going through legal battles with courts and fines, and she said, ‘Let’s not sign the papers.’ I was like, all right, cool. Then it kind of just stayed that way. Then we got married again, and we still didn’t sign.”
Looking back, Harris suggested that not having a legal marriage may have spared them some of the complications that can accompany divorce, particularly when assets and other financial matters are involved.
“If I look back now and see what people go through with divorce, assets, all that, we don’t got to go through none of that. You know what I’m saying? It kind of worked out.”
Harris also confirmed that their relationship had ended after nearly two decades together, revealing that they had been separated for some time.
“I’ve known Yandy for like 20 years. Right now, we’ve probably been split up for over a year,” he said.
Although the romantic relationship has come to an end, the two appear committed to maintaining a healthy family dynamic and putting their children first.
Yandy Smith and Mendeecees Harris Are Keeping Their Family First
During a July 2026 interview with Angela Yee, Smith spoke about their relationship following the breakup, revealing that she and Harris shared a joint mission to protect their family together no matter what.
“We knew ultimately there is a lot of love between us. We also knew that we have to show first and foremost respect to our children,” she added, noting that she would “never disrespect” their family dynamic.“Even if this final chapter is going to be important for me to leave the correct legacy behind,” she added.
After years of sharing their lives with the public, Smith and Harris are now navigating a new chapter as former partners and co-parents — and it looks like they’re happy doing it, too!
What do you think about Yandy Smith and Mendeecees Harris’ relationship and their decision never to legally marry? Do you believe love and commitment are enough without a marriage certificate, or is legal marriage an important step in building a life together? That Social Proof Podcast appearance had us thinking, too. Share your thoughts!
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