R&B superstar Brandy has opened up about her past relationship with Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris who she now feels took advantage of her due to their age gap and her naivety, according to revelations in her new memoir Phases.

In excerpts reported by People Magazine, the singer reflected on their relationship, which began when she was 16 and Morris was in his early 20s. Their friendship, she said, blossomed into a romance after they collaborated on the 1994 track Brokenhearted.

Brandy described the relationship as secretive and emotionally overwhelming, noting that she concealed it from her parents, who were already cautious about her dating. She wrote that both she and Morris were concerned about public backlash, leading them to maintain a narrative that they would wait until she turned 18, despite already being romantically involved.

In the memoir, Brandy recounted feeling pressured and uncertain, and pointed to behavior she now sees as warning signs, including Wanya’s comparisons to other artistes and periods of emotional distance. At the time, she believed she was in love, but said she now questions that interpretation with the perspective of adulthood.

The relationship ultimately ended after she discovered he had been cheating. While Morris has previously characterised their time together as a youthful romance that simply ran its course, Brandy now challenges that perspective. In the memoir, she said she believes she was taken advantage of, emphasising the difference in age and maturity between them at the time.

By sharing her story, Brandy said she is rejecting past narratives that diminished her experience, stating that she was not merely an infatuated teenager but a young person in a situation she now sees as “inappropriate”.

People Magazine indicated that representatives for Morris have not responded to requests for comment.

Phases, published by Hanover Square Press, is now available.