‘U Don’t Need to Explain’: Yandy Smith Fans Jump to Her Defense After Critics Attack Anniversary Post to Mendeecees

It’s safe to say some fans aren’t in favor of Yandy Smith-Harris and her spouse Mendeecees Harris celebrating their anniversary.

Five years ago, the “Love and Hip Hop: New York” stars walked down the aisle and exchanged marital vows with each other. On Monday, May 25, the couple celebrated their special day with heartfelt posts.

Yandy Smith
Yandy Smith-Harris and her husband Mendeecees Harris posing together @yandysmith/Instagram

“Baby love…thanks for helping me become a grown woman @Mendeecees,” the mother of two expressed via Instagram, along with sharing a throwback photo of herself and Harris. “Happy Anniversary Honey Bunches of Oats and Melanin😩🙏🏾❤️ #FirstSightTypeofThing.”

The music producer also wrote a sweet message to his wife, saying, “5yrs ago today, Was a day I’ll never forget…. Love u @yandysmith and can’t wait to enjoy many more with u!”

Yandy Smith
Yandy Smith-Harris @mendeecees/Instagram

Nevertheless, a critic lurked underneath Smith-Harris’ post and slammed her message to Harris. The person commented, “Are you serious why would you tell a man that he help you become a women no sweetie you did it not him when he was lock up who took care of your kids you did when you had to take care of the house and bills you did so you taught yourself to be the wonderful women that you are now said thank you to yourself God bless.”

Others who agreed with the naysayer called Smith-Harris a “fool in love” and said she “deserved better.”

Yandy Smith
Yandy Smith-Harris responds to critic. @yandysmith/Instagram

The entertainment manager fired back at the initial detractor and responded, “girl we were together way before that and he taught me all about transitioning into a fearless, strong women that could do any and everything. If you only knew…”

Her fans chimed in and jumped to her defense.

“U don’t need to explain nothing to her keep uplifting your King some of these chicks be clueless on what a real man is anyway”

“People are so quick to judge situations they know nothing about. Blessings to you and your family.”

“Every trial made her a better woman just like when a man says you made him a better man you sound bitter and his incarceration was a small portion on their relationship like wtf”

Yandy Smith
(From left to right): Aasim Harris, Mendeecees Harris, Skylar Harris (front), Yandy Smith-Harris and Omere Harris @mendeecees/Instagram

Harris was released from prison in January, after serving four years behind bars; he’d plead guilty to “conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute” drugs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He and Smith-Harris married in May 2015, before he went away to serve time. They share five-year-old daughter Skylar and seven-year-old son Omere Harris. The father of four also has eight-year-old Aasim Harris and 14-year-old Mendeecees Harris Jr. from previous relationships.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top