He once topped the charts and toured the world with his Immature groupmates, but Marques Houston has been controversial in recent years. The singer and actor has been involved in the industry since his childhood. Houston knows the perils of public life, especially the public’s prying eyes. However, he was met with a wave of backlash after he married his wife, Miya, when she was 19. At the time, Houston was 38, and people believed their romance was inappropriate.
Reports ran wild as photos of Marques and Miya’s wedding emerged in 2020. Among the well-wishes were questions about how long the pair were together before tying the knot. Considering her age, people believed Houston dated the teen before she became a legal adult. In an interview with Uncensored, the hitmaker finally addresses the scandal.
Marques Houston Sets The Record Straight
Houston says he had no romantic feelings or interactions with Miya before she was 18. “No conversation and no, really, connection,” he said on Uncensored. “Me and my wife’s situation is a little different.” Houston stated he and Miya met through “mutual friends.” It’s rumored that one of those friends was Chris Stokes, the controversial music executive who has faced assault allegations from B2K’s Raz-B. Marques admitted that Miya was 17 when they met but said their situation was unique.
“People don’t understand it. And, of course, I got a lot of backlash for marrying someone that was 19,” said the singer. “And, you know, when we did finally start to talk, I was like, ‘This woman is like me.’” He explained what made his relationship with Miya differ than women his age. “For one, we had a spiritual connection, and I feel like that’s the most important thing.” Both Houston and Miya are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“And being able to start being around her,” he further said, “we connected through music and her spirit, her kindness, her heart. Reminds me a lot of my mom, and we connected on so many different levels.” This has only caused the pushback to intensify from the public. Check out the clip of Marques Houston above and weigh in with your thoughts below.