Lenny Kravitz, who hasn't been married since his 1993 divorce from Lisa Bonet, opens up about being celibate.
Lenny Kravitz is opening up about his decision to be celibate while he awaits new love in his life.
Speaking with The Guardian in a story published on Thursday, the 60-year-old rock star delved into his tumultuous relationship with romance and why he hasn't had a relationship in nine years.
Lenny tells the outlet that he's struggled with the infidelity "curse" his father, Sy Kravitz, put on him. When he discovered that his father was cheating on his mother, actress Roxie Roker, Sy glibly told Lenny that he would end up doing the same thing.
"He became right. After the marriage, I became more like him. I was becoming a player," Lenny says of his dating life after divorcing Lisa Bonet in 1993. "I didn't like it. I didn't want to be that guy. So I had to tackle that and it took years."
Lenny says that he took "responsibility" for his behavior and learned not to let his desires "take over."
The course of action resulted in Lenny not being in a serious relationship for nine years. The Blue Electric Light singer has spoken about embracing celibacy for several years; he first mentioned abstaining from sex until marriage in 2008, saying he had not had sex in the previous three years.
"[It's] just a promise I made until I get married. Where I'm at in life, the women have got to come with something else, not just the body, but the mind and spirit," Lenny told Maxim in 2008. "It usually trips them out, but that's the way it's going to be. I'm looking at the big picture."
But in 2011, he told Details that his remarks got "blown out of proportion."
Talking to The Guardian, the singer says he's still practicing celibacy as he waits for the right partner. "It's a spiritual thing," he says, adding that although he would "love" to be in a relationship now, he thinks he might struggle. "I have become very set in my ways, in the way I live."
Lenny has been linked to many famous faces over the years. He and Lisa Bonet, who tied the knot in 1987 before divorcing in 1993, have earned the title of friendliest celebrity exes. The former couple shares a daughter, Zoë Kravitz, 34.
After Bonet, Lenny briefly dated Kylie Minogue in 1991, although little is known about his relationship with her. The "American Woman" singer then dated singer and model Vanessa Paradis for five years, breaking up in 1997. He produced her 1992 self-titled album, and the couple recorded a duet together titled "Silver and Gold."
After Paradis, Lenny dated Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima, popping the question to her in May 2002. But by 2003, the couple ended their engagement.
Lenny then got engaged to Nicole Kidman not long after his previous engagement fell apart. The pair kept their relationship under wraps -- it wasn't until 2017 that fans knew they were almost married.
Lenny was most recently linked to lingerie model Barbara Fiahlo in 2018. TMZ reported that the two were packing on the PDA that January, but they broke up sometime in the summer of that year.
Earlier this month, Lenny sat down with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King and opened up about how he's ready for love now more than ever in his 60s.
"Right now, I'm just open," he said of his love life, adding that he is always looking -- which might be the problem. "When you desire something, you're looking for it, right? But I find that when you don't look is when you find it."
He added, "I can say that I've never felt how I feel now."
Until Cupid's arrow hits him again, he is finding joy in other aspects of his life, including his music career and his growing family.
In late October, ET confirmed that Zoë had gotten engaged to Channing Tatum -- whom she met while working on her film, Blink Twice, which she directs and Channing stars in. Since then, Lenny has spoken about the love he has for his daughter and his future son-in-law.
"Hey man, that's life," he told ET at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival in January. "When your family is happy, when your child is happy, that's it -- I've done well. Blessed."
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