Marques Houston, 41, is addressing the backlash he’s received regarding the age difference between him and his wife, Miya Houston, 22.
RELATED: Marques Houston Responds To Allegations About Dating His Fiancée While She Was Underaged
Marques Houston Says He Had “No Connection” With His Wife “Until She Was Of Age”
The 41-year-old singer is the latest star to be featured on TV One’s television series, UNCENSORED. The episode is set to air this Sunday.
Ahead of the premiere, the network released a short trailer where Houston detailed his relationship with his wife.
“Me and my wife’s situation is a little different… how we met through mutual friends and everything like that… When I met my wife, she was 17. We had no, really, conversation and no, really, connection until she was of age…”
Houston went on to explain that he’s received a lot of “backlash” for his romance with Miya Houston. However, his focus remains on the “important” connections between him and his wife.
“People don’t understand it. And of course, I got a lot of backlash for marrying someone that was 19. And, you know, when we did finally start to talk, I was like, ‘This woman is like me’… For one, we had a spiritual connection, and I feel like that’s the most important thing… and being able to start being around her… 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.”
Marques Houston Also Shared Insight On His Wife’s Perspective Regarding Their Union
In another trailer, shared by TV One on Instagram, the singer also detailed his wife’s perspective on them pursuing a relationship.
“She told me, ‘Don’t nobody care about you. You’re not famous no more. I didn’t even know who you were.’ And I just remember being like, ‘I love you.'”
Houston went on to share that his wife saw him for who he truly was.
More Details Regarding The Houston’s Union & The Backlash
As The Shade Room previously reported, Houston took to social media in June 2020 to respond to those who accused him of dating Miya Houston when she was underage.
The singer refuted the claims and shared more insight as to how and when the two met.
I met Miya in 2018 through a mutual friend. Never before then, did I even know she existed… Miya is like a daughter to Chris Stokes because we are all like family. Being a Jehovah’s Witness, we all showcase true love like family. That’s it. Chris’ real daughter, Chrissy Morales became friends with Miya in 2018, where we all first met Miya at a Jehovah’s Witness convention. It was then that Chrissy and Miya became friends. Miya and I didn’t start dating until she was an adult. We fell in love and got engaged in March of 2019. My dad Michael loves her, and the people I am closest to all love her as well. Most importantly we have Jehovahs blessing…
In August 2020, the two were married. Marques Houston was 38 years old and Miya Houston was 19.
In December 2021, Miya Houston — then 20 years old — revealed that she was pregnant with the couple’s first child and gave birth before the year was out.
The pair’s age difference sparked major backlash online. But it also prompted social media users to research more into Miya Houston’s identity.
Internet users discovered that Miya, whose government name was originally Miyana Juanita Dickey, was reported missing from Oregon in 2016. At the time of her disappearance, the teen would have been 15 years old.
Proof: girl I’ve been down this whole rabbit hole. pic.twitter.com/lF5bEVkY1O
— Paigey🥢 (@PaigeChristieUK) February 17, 2023
Furthermore, when the woman resurfaced in 2019, fans couldn’t help but notice that she was already in, what appeared to be, a romantic relationship with Marques Houston.
Since then, internet users have accused Houston of engaging in “predatory” behavior and “grooming” Miya Houston as a young bride. In a comment under The Shade Room’s most recent Instagram post regarding Marque’s Houston’s comments, one user explained their thoughts further.
Instagram user alistlacehair wrote.
“35+ grown man befriending a 17 year old child 😮 predatory behaviour putting it nicely #protectchildren”
“She grew up in a broken home, he knew that & took advantage of it! I’m sure he has met lovely women in the JW faith near his own age but this young lady was one who he could manipulate bc of her trauma.. what does an almost 40 yr old man have in common with a teenager talking bout ‘she’s just like me’.. THIS IS PREDATORY.. point blank period”
