Why Did Serayah End Engagement with Joey Bada$$? Actress Reveals Heartbreaking Reason in Emotional Statement

Actor Serayah has called off her engagement to Joey Bada$$ after accusing the rapper of 'repeated infidelity' throughout their relationship, including during what she described as some of the most vulnerable moments of her life.

The 31-year-old actress announced the breakup in an emotional Instagram statement on Monday, 24 August, revealing why she had made the 'difficult decision' to walk away from her relationship with the father of her child.

Reason Why Serayah Ended Her Engagement

Serayah, whose full name is Serayah Ranee McNeill, said alleged repeated infidelity was behind her decision to end her engagement and relationship with Joey Bada$$.

'I loved deeply, believed wholeheartedly in the life we were building, and wanted nothing more than to protect our family,' the Empire star wrote.

'Unfortunately, I also had to face a painful truth: there had been repeated infidelity throughout our relationship, including during some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of my life.'

Serayah did not identify any alleged third parties or disclose further details about the accusations. Joey Bada$$, also 31, had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of publication.

The former couple welcomed a son last year.

Serayah Says 'Choosing Herself' Became Necessary

In her lengthy statement, Serayah explained that her decision was not intended as retaliation or an attempt to publicly attack her former fiancé.

'There comes a point in a woman's life when choosing herself is no longer an option, it becomes necessary,' she wrote.

The actress said she decided to share her experience because women can sometimes be encouraged to question themselves rather than what is happening around them.

'If your intuition is telling you something is wrong, listen to it,' she said.

Serayah also urged women not to 'make yourself smaller' to keep somebody else comfortable or compromise their values because they fear losing the future they had imagined.

'Love should not require you to abandon yourself,' she added.

Serayah and Joey Bada$$ Will Prioritise Their Son

Despite the allegations and the end of their engagement, Serayah made clear that the former couple's child would remain her priority.

'I will always respect the fact that we share a beautiful son, and my priority will be protecting his peace, privacy and relationship with both of his parents,' she wrote.

Serayah said protecting their son's privacy was also why she would not publicly discuss further intimate details surrounding the breakdown of her relationship with Joey Bada$$.

'This chapter did not end the way I prayed it would. But endings can also be beginnings,' she added.

Joey Bada$$ Said He Was 'Very Much Monogamous'

The breakup comes after Joey Bada$$ previously said his relationship with Serayah had changed his views on monogamy.

The pair first met at a mutual friend's birthday party in 2021 before beginning their relationship in 2022.

Speaking to Essence last year, the rapper, who had previously been open about being polyamorous, said his relationship with Serayah had shifted what he wanted.

'It definitely shifted, and the dynamic that I wanted changed,' he said. 'So I'm very much monogamous now.'

Joey Bada$$ also recalled being immediately struck by Serayah when they first met, describing her as 'strikingly gorgeous' and saying her aura was 'radiating.'

He said at the time that his move towards monogamy was where he felt 'secure,' comments that have resurfaced following Serayah's allegations of repeated infidelity and the end of their engagement.