Latest news with #nonmonogamy
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
She Felt 'Deeply Alone' in Her Previous Marriage. Now She Shares Her Polyamorous Relationship Online (Exclusive)
Hayley Folk is in an ethical, non-monogamous relationship with her husband She makes videos and writes about her relationship and partners to raise awareness and fight stigmas Folk shares her relationship online in hopes to help others like her feel less aloneHayley Folk is very open about her relationship. Folk, 30, is a bisexual polyamorous woman who is in an ethical, non-monogamous relationship with her husband. Folk "spent the almost past 10 years coming to terms with being polyamorous, ethically non-monogamous, and finding relationships that suit me." Folk talks with PEOPLE exclusively about her lifestyle, why she shares her content and what she hopes people learn and take away from her videos and articles. In her first marriage, her husband opened their relationship because he believed it was what she wanted. "I was going in blind and had no clue what I was doing, but through two years of being in an open relationship and then an open marriage, when we got married, I realized I was polyamorous," she explains to PEOPLE. "The relationship ended for multiple reasons, one of them being that my ex-husband realized he was monogamous, and we realized we didn't [work] for each other. We got married young, and then I moved to New York." Once Folk moved to New York, she began dating and met her now-husband, Kyle, with whom she has been open since the beginning of their relationship. Then, Folk began writing professionally about her life online, and for her, it felt like a "therapeutic processing piece." This year, she started sharing videos about her polyamorous lifestyle online and grew her following, sharing an honest look at her life. She receives a lot of comments on her content, both positive and negative. Through her platform, she has built a community of people who discovered they are polyamorous and interested in ethical non-monogamy. Folk has been able to quell misconceptions about what polyamory and ethical non-monogamy look like, including the idea that "polyamory is a way to say out loud that you want to cheat, and that is not the case." "Ethical non-monogamy is an umbrella term, and being polyamorous is having the ability to love multiple people at once. Someone can be polyamorous and be in a closed relationship. The ability to be polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous is so that you can be honest about what you want." In making her content, Folk hopes that ethical non-monogamy can be normalized. "It doesn't have to be something that's taboo. It doesn't have to be something that's a conversation starter, something that everyone else can gawk at," she continues. "What I've come to find over time is that, like queerness, polyamory can be a normal thing. To embody this lifestyle, there is the ability also eventually to come to terms with it, and we're all living our lives in the way that we know how best [to]." Though it varies from relationship to relationship, Folk shares that she and her husband have rules for each other, and she acknowledges that "the rules do fluctuate over time." "We always check in with each other before and after dates with other people. Check-in can be done over text, FaceTime, or in person," she explains. "We like to take the time beforehand to set intentions and check in with each other, and that's something that we strictly abide by." Folk also explains that during these check-ins, they conduct a temperature check on the relationship to ensure they're spending enough time together. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One of Folk's most significant pieces of advice for those who have been in a monogamous relationship for a while and are looking to open up is to "take your time." "Slower is better. Maybe create a dating profile together and swipe through profiles together, imagining going on dates. Sit down and write out every possible scenario that you are afraid of happening, and talk about those things openly," she details. "Sometimes, people open up as a way to save their relationship or fulfill their partner's needs, but they don't discuss their fears. If you can access those conversations together before you do anything and continue to have those conversations, that's the healthiest way." She also recommends that couples consider investing in a couples therapist who specializes in and understands alternative relationship styles. "You need someone who can truly understand and is coming at it from a completely non-biased perspective." There are many things that Folk enjoys about her relationships, including "not having to hide anything about myself from my primary partner." "There is a level of freedom and transparency that happens when you can truly say anything, and you don't have to filter yourself," Folk shares. "I can be myself openly, honestly and authentically, including the connections I want with other people, and it's okay. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with our relationship or that it's bad." The hardest part about her relationship, Folk shares, is the "judgment from society." "I've developed a very thick skin over the years. I discuss this online for a reason, and some comments are quite harsh," Folk recalls. "I would be lying if I said it didn't affect me at all. I could see for other new [polyamorous] people; maybe that fear of judgment could be the worst part." "I want to help other people. When I opened my previous marriage, I felt so deeply alone. I was searching through Reddit and was following the advice of strangers. I was trying to find any resources," Folk shares. "People don't get it more often than not, so I want to make sure that one person can feel less alone. That's what matters to me. I want to help folks. If I can help at least one person through embarrassing, cringy or sometimes sentimental videos, then that's what I'll do." Read the original article on People
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Moment woman breaks down after begging boyfriend for an open relationship backfires
A WOMAN bursts into tears at a sexy party as the reality of an open relationship leaves her overwhelmed - despite begging her partner to explore it. In tomorrow night's episode of Channel 4 's Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, which sees couples take steps towards non-monogamy Essex girl Sharmayne's fantasy doesn't go to plan. 5 Surrounded by glamorously dressed couples and singletons, Sharmayne, 26, admits to her husband Jamie, 29, that it's all a bit too much. She tells him: "I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed." He responds: "Do you want to take a little break?" The pair head outside for some fresh air and Sharmayne immediately becomes tearful. She says: "I just feel overwhelmed. It's just a bit much for me, the whole situation." Showing compassion, Jamie reassures her: "We're not obligated to do anything. This is our journey." Sharmayne continues: "I'm just uncomfortable." Their Open House future is left hanging in the balance with Jamie asking: "Where do we go from here?" Confused Sharmayne says: "I don't know if I'm going to be able to hold myself together now. "I really don't want to do it. I just want to go home." Her reaction to the unconventional world of swinging isn't unusual on the show. Often one or both parties in a relationship are left grappling with their emotions as their significant other hooks up with third parties. Last week, non-monogamy expert Effy Blue suggested couple Tom and Lauren get intimate with other people. After returning to their room, Lauren told Tom: "Don't be nervous. "You absolutely got this." Lauren admitted it was her idea to take part on the show - saying she felt like they had been "thrown in at the deep end". She told the camera: "But to be able to have him to have the confidence that we can go off, have our fun, come back to each other at the end of the night and it's absolutely insane." Things got too intense for Tom, who retreated to the bathroom to be sick. The narrator then said: "But the thought of flying solo entirely naked isn't sitting well with Tom." 5 5 5 Tom could be heard vomiting in the toilet and looked distressed. He confessed: "This is going to be horrible,' to which Lauren replied: "I just want to cuddle you." Tom added: "I feel absolutely petrified and sick." The week before, there were more tears when couple Alana and Alex had a threesome with another woman called Georgie. After the deed was done, Alex struggled with how intense Georgie and Alana's connection had been. He could be seen silently crying in bed as his girlfriend fell asleep.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Man who VOMITED after being told he had to let partner sleep with another man issues defiant statement after shocking footage airs on Channel 4
The man who vomited after being told he had to let partner sleep with another man has issued a defiant statement as the shocking footage aired on the latest episode of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. Couple Tom and Lauren, from Devon, have appeared on the latest series of the racy Channel 4 show - which sees couples try and open up their relationship. During last Friday's episode (13 June), Tom was sick after chatting to non monogamy expert Effy Blue, who told the pair that they had to have sexual experiences with other people without each other. Earlier this month the pair took to Instagram to open up about their experience on the show with a video of them dancing along to Stormzy 's tune Own It. Tom and Lauren captioned the post: 'Thank you everyone for all your support so far, our next episode is out next Friday 10pm, remember please be kind, we went on there to be open & honest and are both very happy together, remember they cut so much out for the drama xxx #openhouse #couple #reel #love #happy #realitytv.' Many rushed to the comments section to share the love. It comes after MailOnline revealed an exclusive sneak peek of Tom vomiting in a bathroom after being told he has to let partner sleep with another man in a jaw-dropping first look last week 'Definitely my favorite couple so far! So brave and yeah, good for you!' 'You was both brilliant tonight well done.' 'I watched the second episode of yours last night and I haven't ever sat and clapped for a stranger so much in my life! Hands down my favourite couple yet and the best ending for you guys!' On Monday they shared a happy selfie and told fans: 'Overwhelmed with all the messages & support guys, thank you everyone, we are so glad that Tom's story resonated with so many of you, still smiling from that last episode on.' It comes after MailOnline revealed an exclusive sneak peek of Tom vomiting in a bathroom after being told he has to let partner sleep with another man in a jaw-dropping first look. One couple who appear on the instalment, Tom and Lauren, are keen to spice things up a bit in the bedroom. After a chat with non monogamy expert Effy Blue, the expert said that she wanted the dynamics to 'change a bit' and the pair should both have experiences without each other. Effy tells viewers: 'Today is about challenging Tom to be independent. 'I'm curious to see how that will affect the dynamics they have between them. 'Lauren needs to be a partner to Tom, not a caretaker.' As they return to their room, Lauren tells Tom: 'Don't be nervous. You absolutely got this.' Lauren tells the camera: 'It was my idea. It was my idea from the start. 'Yes it's throwing me and Tom in the deep end... 'But to be able to have him to have the confidence that we can go off, have our fun, come back to each other at the end of the night and it's absolutely insane.' The voiceover says: 'But the thought of flying solo entirely naked isn't sitting well with Tom.' Tom can then be heard being sick in the toilet and Lauren runs to him with some water. 'This is going to be horrible,' Tom confesses. Lauren replies: 'I just want to cuddle you.' Tom says: 'I feel absolutely petrified and sick.' While hugging him from behind, Lauren tells him: 'All that anyone can ask is that you just try, okay?' It comes after viewers saw a couple completely U-turn on monogamy after they embark on a shocking fivesome. A week prior, Johnny, 43, and Sarah, 37, clashed about 'swapping partners' just moments before they both began smooching another woman in the jacuzzi But in the next episode they got up close and personal with three other residents. As viewers will remember, Johnny had to take a breather and confessed he was feeling 'anxious' after getting to know eight other people. Sarah confessed: 'If we don't do it now, I don't think we are ever going to. 'He's naturally going to be a bit nervous but we need to crack on and get it done.' But after having their first ever fivesome, Sarah shouted: 'We want more!' Johnny adds: 'This is just the first step. This is the first step. 'And what we needed to do because this is what we want to do. We want to enjoy each other. 'We want to share it. That's just an amazing experience!'
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Watch moment reality star VOMITS after being told partner must sleep with another man in racy TV show
THIS is the moment a reality star vomited after being told he must let his girlfriend sleep with another man on Channel 4 show. On Friday's episode of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, Tom and Lauren joined the show in a bid to spice up their relationship. 4 4 4 Non-monogamy expert Effy Blue suggested they give intimacy a go with other people, other than their partner. Speaking to the camera, she told viewers: "Today is about challenging Tom to be independent. "I'm curious to see how that will affect the dynamics they have between them. "Lauren needs to be a partner to Tom, not a caretaker." After returning to their room, Lauren told Tom: "Don't be nervous. "You absolutely got this." Lauren admitted it was her idea to take part on the show - saying she felt like they had been "thrown in at the deep end". She told the camera: "But to be able to have him to have the confidence that we can go off, have our fun, come back to each other at the end of the night and it's absolutely insane." But it looked like things had got too intense for Tom, who retreated to the bathroom to be sick. Overwhelmed husband wipes away tears after partner romps with another woman in Open House The narrator then said: "But the thought of flying solo entirely naked isn't sitting well with Tom." Tom could be heard vomiting in the toilet and looking distressed. A distraught Tom confessed: "This is going to be horrible,' to which Lauren replies: "I just want to cuddle you." Tom added: "I feel absolutely petrified and sick." Lauren is then seen hugging her man from behind. Trying to reassure him, she told him: "All that anyone can ask is that you just try, okay?" Last week one man was left in tears after watching his wife romp with a woman during a threesome. Alana and Alex took part on the show, which sees couples explore the idea of an open relationship. The couple were in their bedroom preparing to be visited by female resident Georgie. They hoped they could take the next step towards their ultimate goal of engaging in a couple swap by having a threesome first. Alana confessed: "I don't know how this is going to go seeing Alex with another woman." Alex then opened up to the camera and said he was worried about how Alana might feel to see him with someone else. He said: "I think I felt overwhelmed because it went from a zero to a hundred. "And it caught me off guard really. "I can't quite match that just now." Later, after Georgie left, his wife said she had loved every single minute. She then asked Alex if he enjoyed it to which he replied: "I loved seeing you enjoy it." After his wife snuggled up under the duvet to go to sleep, Alex was left musing. And as he sat up in bed tears streamed down his face as he admitted he was unsure if an open relationship was what he wanted. 4
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Man VOMITS after being told he has to let partner sleep with another man in jaw-dropping first look at Open House: The Great Sex Experiment
A man vomits after being told he has to let partner sleep with another man in a jaw-dropping first look at Friday's episode of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. The saucy Channel 4 show will return to our screens tonight (13 June 2025) and follow the lives of a number of other couples as they open up their relationship. One couple who appear on the instalment, Tom and Lauren, are keen to spice things up a bit in the bedroom. After a chat with non monogamy expert Effy Blue, the expert said that she wanted the dynamics to 'change a bit' and the pair should both have experiences without each other. Effy tells viewers: 'Today is about challenging Tom to be independent. 'I'm curious to see how that will affect the dynamics they have between them. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Tom (pictured) is heard being sick in the toilet after he is told that he has to have a separate experience away from Lauren 'Lauren needs to be a partner to Tom, not a caretaker.' As they return to their room, Lauren tells Tom: 'Don't be nervous. 'You absolutely got this.' Lauren tells the camera: 'It was my idea. It was my idea from the start. 'Yes it's throwing me and Tom in the deep end... 'But to be able to have him to have the confidence that we can go off, have our fun, come back to each other at the end of the night and it's absolutely insane.' The voiceover says: 'But the thought of flying solo entirely naked isn't sitting well with Tom.' Tom can then be heard being sick in the toilet and Lauren runs to him with some water. 'This is going to be horrible,' Tom confesses. Lauren replies: 'I just want to cuddle you.' Tom says: 'I feel absolutely petrified and sick.' While hugging him from behind, Lauren tells him: 'All that anyone can ask is that you just try, okay?' It comes after viewers saw a couple completely U-turn on monogamy after they embark on a shocking fivesome. A week prior, Johnny, 43, and Sarah, 37, clashed about 'swapping partners' just moments before they both began smooching another woman in the jacuzzi But in the next episode they got up close and personal with three other residents. As viewers will remember, Johnny had to take a breather and confessed he was feeling 'anxious' after getting to know eight other people. Sarah confessed: 'If we don't do it now, I don't think we are ever going to. 'He's naturally going to be a bit nervous but we need to crack on and get it done.' But after having their first ever fivesome, Sarah shouted: 'We want more!' Johnny adds: 'This is just the first step. This is the first step. 'And what we needed to do because this is what we want to do. We want to enjoy each other. 'We want to share it. That's just an amazing experience!'
