A couple have opened up about their ‘unconventional’ relationship, admitting that they’ve experienced ‘jealousy’ and uncertainty while opening up their marriage
Everybody has different boundaries in a relationship, and one woman admitted that she lets her boyfriend sleep with other men while being in a relationship with her.
Renn and Durden are happy with their unconventional set-up, but people online send them death threats because they’re in an open relationship rather than a monogamous one, which means they can see and sleep with other people outside of their coupling. Both of them identify as bisexual, and their arrangement allows them to explore their sexuality.
Renn said that she’d “always known” that she was bisexual, but said that she believes people don’t think “bi men exist,” with many claiming Durden must “be gay” if he also likes men – which is just not true.
The pair, who appeared on Love Don’t Judge, said they met on Tinder and Durden initially thought Renn was out of his league, saying that she “looked really sweet and genuine.” But Renn’s motive was to “hit it and quit it” because she wasn’t “looking for a relationship.” However, the two hit it off and they ended up dating.
Durden came out as bisexual a year and a half into their relationship, and it was Renn who suggested he might be. “That was what led us to being in an open relationship,” Renn shared, saying that they would have “experiences with single men and women” and have the “freedom to explore that”.
She said that she “never gets judgement for being a bi woman,” but said he’s constantly getting criticised for being a bi man with many saying that their “relationship is a joke” and that Durden must “be gay”. The pair “brush the comments off,” however, realising that the haters are “not happy with their own lives,” but Durden acknowledged it can be harder when he’s having an “off day” or is “in his head”.
Durden even shared that he doesn’t get called names in public when he wears things like crop tops and short shorts – it’s just “online” he faces criticism.
They said that it took around three years for them to express their boundaries with each other and realise what would be okay in the relationship, and what wasn’t. But once they figured it out and got over “insecurities” and “jealousy” they realised it could be enjoyable for both of them.
To keep their marriage spicy, they go to “hotel takeovers” where there’s a three to four-day party where you can be “free and authentic”, and there are “playrooms” where they can explore their sexuality with other people.
During the video, they met up with Renn’s mum, who admitted she was a bit concerned about their relationship and what other people may think.
But she did say she believes “in the power of self-expression fully” and that they should be able to live their life on their own terms. She said she felt happy that her daughter had found someone “so accepting”.
The couple said that they would probably be living “this lifestyle” until they were in their 60s or 70s, and couldn’t imagine a time where they wouldn’t be “in the community”.
In the comments, someone said they’d rather “be like this” than their partner be doing it “on the down low”.
“As long as they are honest and safe about it who cares,” another added. Somebody fumed: “I don’t know why people only judge bi men; I mean, there are bi women out there with other women and men, but still, people have so many negative feelings towards bi men”.