Brandy and Wanya Morris: The Love Story Behind the Music
The story of Brandy and Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men is one of both professional collaboration and personal connection. Their bond helped shape Brandy’s rise to stardom and provided a formative experience in her early career.
As a teenager in the ’90s, Brandy was a huge fan of Boyz II Men, especially drawn to Wanya’s talent and charisma.
Their first meeting, which was arranged by Brandy’s mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, marked the beginning of a mentorship that would open many doors for Brandy.
After their initial meeting, Wanya took Brandy under his wing, introducing her to influential figures in the music industry, such as Vita Spears and Ralph Farar.
This connection helped Brandy land roles on iconic sitcoms like Thea and Moesha, as well as further her singing career. Brandy even had the opportunity to tour with Boyz II Men and recorded a remix of her hit song “Brokenhearted” with Wanya, which became a chart-topping success, reaching number two on the Billboard charts.
However, what started as a professional relationship soon turned into something more personal. Brandy later revealed in her 2012 VH1 Behind the Music special that she eventually confessed her feelings for Wanya, despite being initially afraid to do so.
The primary source of her hesitation was the six-year age gap between them, as well as concerns over her mother’s reaction. Brandy admitted that she feared her mother would have a heart attack if she found out about their budding romance. But one day, she mustered the courage to tell Wanya how she felt, and to her relief, he responded with a simple “wow.”
The secrecy surrounding their relationship only fueled speculation, and Brandy later explained that she kept it private to avoid affecting her image as a teen idol. At the time, her career was her primary focus, and she didn’t want young fans to question her decisions regarding love.
While there was no concrete evidence to confirm they were romantically involved at that point, Wanya later defended their relationship, claiming on Instagram Live in 2021 that they did not become a couple until Brandy turned 18.
He also admitted that they had a deep connection during their time together, which he described as “intimate.” Brandy herself confirmed in the Behind the Music special that their romantic relationship began only after she was of legal age, and she referred to Wanya as her first true love.
Their relationship, however, did not last. After about two years, they parted ways in 1999. Wanya claimed that they had simply outgrown each other, though he admitted that he had fallen out of love with Brandy sooner than she had with him. A different account of their breakup surfaced when singer Adina Howard claimed that she had started a relationship with Wanya while he and Brandy were still together. According to Adina, this was the real reason behind their breakup.
Adina, who gained fame in the ’90s with her album Do You Want to Ride and the hit single “Freak Like Me,” further revealed that her romance with Wanya had caused tension between her and Brandy, as both were signed to Atlantic Records at the time.
The love triangle was reportedly so messy that label executive Sylvia Rhone intervened, advising Adina to focus on her career instead of the drama. The situation took a toll on Adina’s career, as her second album was delayed, and she later vented about the ordeal in a phone conversation with Wendy Williams, which further impacted her reputation.
Brandy’s account of the breakup echoed much of what Adina had said, confirming that Wanya had fallen in love with someone else. Brandy described the heartbreak as devastating, explaining that being in love all by yourself was the worst feeling.
She felt as though her heart had been ripped out and crushed. Despite the heartbreak, Brandy maintained hope that she would find love again.
Following her breakup with Wanya, Brandy’s love life continued to be complicated. In 2002, three years after parting ways with Wanya, Brandy announced she had married Robert Smith, with whom she was also expecting her first child. However, their marriage was later revealed to be a fabrication, designed to protect Brandy’s public image.
Robert admitted in interviews that the couple had faked the marriage to preserve Brandy’s “squeaky clean” reputation. Brandy later acknowledged this lie, though she clarified that she and Robert had been spiritually united and engaged at one point.
Brandy’s journey didn’t stop there. She got engaged twice more, once to NBA player Quinton Richardson and another time to music executive Ryan Press, but neither engagement led to marriage.
As of now, Brandy is focused on her music career and raising her daughter, Sarai. In 2020, she shared on The Real that she was choosing not to date, instead focusing on her personal growth and her family.
Brandy’s relationships have certainly shaped her, but they’ve also contributed to the development of her music and career. Her first love with Wanya Morris remains a defining chapter in her life, filled with passion, heartbreak, and the complexities of navigating love under the public’s scrutiny.
