Marques Houston Explains Marrying Wife At 19 When He Was 38

BY Erika Marie 3.5K Views
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"Til Death Do Us Part" Atlanta Screening
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 21: Marques Houston attends the "Til Death Do Us Part" Atlanta Screening at Regal Atlantic Station on September 21, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
People questioned if they dated before she was of legal age, and the Immature singer is answering rumors.

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.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.