R&B Crooner Tyrese Gibson Is a Hopeless Romantic — Here's a Closer Look at His Love Life
Tyrese's dating history has been an emotional rollercoaster. From a tumultuous marriage to abuse allegations — here's a rundown of his love life.
By D.M.Feb. 27 2024, Published 8:22 p.m. ET
Singer Tyrese Gibson has been involved in his fair share of public relationships. The entertainer, who rose to fame following the release of his 1998 self-titled album, has been very vocal about his experience with love.
“I’m a lover and even if I tried to go dark and scream ‘F**k everybody, love ain’t for me.' That’s just not who I am, or how my heart even functions,” Tyrese wrote in an Instagram post.
The R&B crooner's declaration came on the heels of a messy breakup with his ex-wife, Samantha Lee.
Tyrese’s dating history is storied – to say the least. While the singer is seemingly happy with his girlfriend Zelie Timothy, his past romances have been filled with drama. Here is a breakdown of Tyrese’s love life.
Norma Mitchcell
Norma and Tyrese Gibson attend EBONY Magazine Pre Oscar Celebration
One of Tyrese’s most notable relationships was with Norma Mitchell, whom he married in 2007. The couple welcomed their daughter, Shayla, in 2007, but unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce in 2009.
According to Radar Online, the couple became engulfed in a bitter custody battle after their split. Norma further claimed that Tyrese was an absent father who refused to build a relationship with their daughter.
The strained relationship became exacerbated after Norma accused Tyrese of physically abusing Shayla, though, Tyrese vehemently denied the accusation. Their relationship took yet another turn when Norma was granted a temporary restraining order.
Eventually, Tyrese and Norma settled their legal differences and were awarded 50/50 custody of Shayla.
Samantha Lee
Samantha Lee Gibson and Tyrese Gibson attend 36th Annual Atlanta UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball
Following his split from Norma, Tyrese dated Samantha Lee. In 2017, he tied the knot with the social worker in a private California wedding ceremony and the couple later welcomed two daughters. However, their relationship was short-lived. The couple announced their separation in 2020 after nearly four years together.
“We have decided to make a statement of a painful and significant development in our lives,” the pair said in a statement. “After much thought, consideration, and prayer, we unfortunately have made the difficult decision to officially separate and divorce.”
Tyrese admitted that their romantic relationship was an emotional roller coaster, but they will remain committed to co-parenting.
Zelie Timothy
Tyrese Gibson with Zelie Timothy on the red carpet at the world premiere of the film 'Fast X.'
Tyrese started dating Zelie Timothy in March 2021 after divorcing Samantha a year earlier. Tyrese's relationship with Zelie Timothy marked a new chapter in his journey and their relationship has been filled with drama.
On Feb. 12, Tyrese took to Instagram to announce that Zelie had broken up with him because of the content on his album.
“Me and Zelie just broke up over some dumb s--t,” Tyrese wrote. “She demanded that I cancel my album because there’s too many songs about my ex on there. [What the] f--k does that even mean?”
Days later, Tyrese returned to social media to reveal that the pair had rekindled their romance. The singer shared a slate of photos from their time together, gushing over his relationship with the influencer.
