Teyana Taylor has spent much of the past year in motion, professionally, creatively, and emotionally. In a Vanity Fair interview, the multi-hyphenate artist opened up about how her divorce from former NBA player Iman Shumpert continues to shape her life, particularly as she navigates motherhood and co-parenting.
Teyana Taylor compares Iman Shumpert divorce to ‘grieving the death of a living being’
Taylor was married to Shumpert from 2016 until their split in 2023. She described divorce in deeply personal terms. “Divorce, to me, is you’re grieving the death of a living being,” she said, explaining that the emotional weight doesn’t disappear simply because a relationship ends. For Taylor, that grief exists alongside responsibility because of the two daughters, Junie, 10, and Rue, 5, they share.
She emphasised that having children changes everything. “Once children are involved, you understand the importance of really still having to show up for each other,” she explained. Taylor noted that co-parenting requires a long-term commitment, so they have to be respectful for the next “18 years.” Even with the divorce, Taylor was careful to clarify that her experience hasn’t made her cynical about love or marriage. “Marriage is a beautiful thing,” she said, showing her optimistic approach to love.
Much of that emotional processing found its way into her music. In August 2025, Taylor released her album “Escape Room.” It was shaped by her heartbreak, and it earned her the first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.
Taylor also paired the album with a visual film, which starred Lakeith Stanfield and Aaron Pierre, whom she later confirmed she was dating. Rumours of her split with him surfaced months later. Taylor still maintained a grounded outlook. “When I love, my love is real,” she said. “Whatever you’ve seen was real until there was no more and that’s okay.”
Through her career and everything else, Taylor remains focused on growth, honesty, and showing up, both for her children and for herself.
