Rickey Smiley Bio: From Raising Multiple Kids To Married, Family, & Gay Rumors

American stand-up personality Rickey Smiley is well known for his single parenting skills. But could it be possible that he raised over ten kids without a wife/partner?

The Birmingham-native is an American stand-up comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality. He is famous for his show, Rickey Smiley For Real- a reality television series about his life. Apart from that, he's also an author of his memoir entitled, Stand By Your Truth: And Then Run For Your Life.

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As of 2018, the reality star boasts the net worth of $5 million. 

Rickey Smiley's Short Bio (Age): Family, Height, Ethnicity

Born on 10 August 1968, in East Birmingham, Alabama, as Broderick “Rickey” Smiley, Rickey grew up in a project home.

His mother raised him whereas his father- a Vietnam vet, passed away when he was six years of age. Fortunately, his grandfather was there to fill the void as his father figure.

Standing at a towering height, Rickey possesses the ethnicity of African American.

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Rickey Smiley's Ex-Girlfriend Keeps Quiet About Their First Child

Rickey has raised two biological kids named Brandon and Malik and about 15 adopted kids (inc. a son; Craig, daughters; D’Essence, and Aaryn); including his nieces and nephews.

However, it turns out that one of his former girlfriend (unrevealed) kept this huge secret about him becoming a father.

He found out about his first kid and eldest son six years after he was born. After some DNA testing confirming that it was his son, he wanted to be a part of his life.

However, there was another man his ex-girlfriend had been dating who thought that it was his son; the girlfriend-boyfriend duo was raising him as his own while the man didn’t know about it.

Then the three parties involved came up with a solution. Rickey first started by visiting his kid occasionally until his son decided to move in with him.

The pair who were parenting his son eventually went on to get married whereas, Smiley went on to become a great dad.

Rickey Smiley & His Kids’ Story: Single & Black Fatherhood

On the surface, Smiley’s show, Rickey Smiley For Real, explores how the busy single parent juggles his personal life with his professional career.

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Black fatherhood is a unique part of his show because rarely any program shows the accurate representation of how it is like being a black father. Then there’s another aspect that is entirely relatable to any ethnic group: Single Parenthood.

But where did he derive the inspiration for the show? From his childhood, with the void of his father!

Losing his father when he was only six years of age had a significant impact on his life but especially on his decisions to provide his kids with a healthy environment.   

I want everyone to watch this show because its universal, and we all go through the same things in life. The same problems that affect my household affect someone else’s household regardless of race or culture. How we resolve our issues through conflict resolution is something everyone can learn from. - Rickey Smiley (In 2016 interview with Huffingtonpost)

Raising over 15 kids as well as putting the majority of them through college, the comic continually finds himself in a variety of challenges such as behavioral and legal issues.

But the hindrances he faces doesn’t stop him from trying to be a good parent, trying to provide a healthy family life to those children--which encourages parents out there to act.

Amidst this chaotic lifestyle, Smiley’s commitment to faith is also something that his viewers find inspiring.

When you go from being funny to people saying you inspire me, you help me, you gave this kid scholarships…when your body is laying in front of the church, and people are not lined up to get to that microphone just to have a moment to talk about how you have impacted their life, then you have wasted time on this earth. - R. Smiley (In 2018 interview with A-Scene’s Francesca Amiker) 

His friends and family don't love him just because he's famous; his compassion has a huge say on the topic. That’s the kind of man he is, and that’s the kind of message he’s always looking out to send; his kids are his universe, and that all kids should be well nurtured because they’re the future.

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Is Rickey Smiley Married To Wife Or Gay Tag Still Remains?

No, Rickey Smiley isn't married and doesn't have a wife, which makes it even more astonishing that he has been raising over ten kids by himself.

However, during one time in his career, he was once labeled 'gay' amidst his controversial comments on American R&B singer, Fantasia's baby dady, Antwaun Cook. It was just a spat-off between the pair.

So to wipe away the gay rumors, his relationship with ex-girlfriend and having kids might just be enough. And if any questions remain, the jury's still out there to decide.

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