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After eight years in the spotlight, Safaree formally left the Love & Hip Hop series. The singer, who first rose to fame as Nicki Minaj's lover before establishing himself as a regular on reality TV, appeared on the show in Atlanta, Hollywood, Miami, and New York, among other places.
Viewers witnessed Safaree negotiate relationships, start businesses, have dramatic altercations, and produce viral moments during his stint, solidifying his legacy on reality TV.
When he joined the Hollywood cast of Love & Hip Hop in 2016, he immediately became a fan favorite and alternated between the franchise's many city incarnations.
By chronicling his music career goals and business endeavors, Love & Hip Hop changed his public character from "Nicki's ex" to a personality unto himself. Safaree recently said on the "We in Miami" podcast that, despite the platform's advantages, he has decided not to return for the current filming season, mostly due to onerous contract conditions and public misunderstandings.
"I walked away," he stated clearly.
He stated:
"They're filming now, but I didn't even sign back on."
Why did Safaree leave Love & Hip Hop?
Safaree's departure from Love & Hip Hop boiled down to one key issue: freedom. During his "We in Miami" podcast appearance, he explained the restrictive nature of the contract renewal.
The main sticking point was exclusivity rights, which would have limited his ability to pursue other opportunities. For a performer looking to expand his horizons, these terms were more than unacceptable.
"I would have done it again, but these lawyers and everyone involved want all these exclusivity rights," he explained.
Elaborating:
"They want to tie me down and say, 'Okay, only here. You can't do anything else.' You have to pay me to sit."
After nearly a decade on Love & Hip Hop, Safaree was ready for change and unwilling to be restricted to one platform.
Beyond contract issues, Safaree expressed frustration with how viewers perceived him based on his reality TV persona.
"With 'Love & Hip Hop,' I just don't like that people who watch it feel like they know me," he admitted.
This disconnect between his on-screen character and real personality clearly weighed on him.
The public's reaction to his TV portrayal sometimes became uncomfortable in real-life interactions.
"I be places, and people see me and they'll be like, 'Behave yourself! Stop!' What? Get the hell out of my face, lady. These people really hold on to stuff they see."
This sentiment was echoed in his other interviews where he expanded:
"People who watch it, they really feel like they know me and that's me... These people be really holding on to sh** that they see."
Safaree’s current ventures and struggles
Safaree's connection to Nicki Minaj continues to shadow his career, something highlighted during his promotion for Peacock's House of Villains reality show.
In a press interview with castmates Teresa Giudice and Wes Bergman, things turned personal when Bergman made pointed comments about Safaree's past relationship with the rap superstar.
"His life's been downhill since that breakup," Bergman said with a smirk.
Quipping:
"He peaked, he beat me there."
Bergman didn't stop there, adding:
"Her career skyrocketed the second that she left him."
Though Safaree laughed along, he quickly countered with "I left" and advised viewers, "Don't listen to Wes," attempting to maintain some control of the narrative.
The shadow of his past relationship was also evident when he attended Nicki's Gag City Reloaded Tour in Miami, even wearing a denim vest reminiscent of one from their relationship era.
Despite his exit, Safaree acknowledged the positive impact the show had on his career trajectory.
"I can't even front on the amount of doors it opened up for me and the opportunities and the extra eyes," he admitted.
Elaborating:
"At first, I really was not trying to do it. And then when I got on and I kind of felt like I took it over, that helped a lot."
The platform transformed him from Nicki Minaj's former partner into a legitimate entertainment figure with his own fanbase. His appearances allowed him to showcase his personality and ventures, including a line of adult toys that followed his leaked sex tape in 2018.
Safaree's career continues with his appearance on season two of Peacock's House of Villains, suggesting he's not abandoning reality TV entirely—just the Love & Hip Hop universe.
The move indicates his desire for creative freedom rather than a complete pivot away from the genre that made him famous. He seems to be trying to have greater control over his public persona and professional path by leaving the franchise while staying in the reality TV industry.
This change represents a new phase in Safaree's developing public character, one that he thinks will enable him to define himself according to his own terms, according to followers who have followed his path from Nicki Minaj's lover to reality star to independent performer.
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Love & Hip Hop: Miami airs Mondays at 8/7c on VH1.
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