If you’ve spent any time scrolling through reality TV clips or checking out the latest "Love & Hip Hop" drama, you know Erica Mena doesn't do anything halfway. Especially love. Honestly, her dating history is basically a masterclass in whirlwind romances and very public breakups. But if we’re talking legal, "till death do us part" paperwork, there is actually only one person who fits the bill.
Safaree Samuels is the man who was Erica Mena's husband.
Most people get this confused because Erica has been engaged a few times, and those engagements were loud. Like, stadium-status loud. But when it comes down to who she actually walked down the aisle for, it’s Safaree. They didn't just date; they built a whole life together, albeit a chaotic one that played out right in front of the cameras.
The Legacy Castle Wedding
Erica and Safaree’s road to the altar was fast. Like, blink-and-you-miss-it fast. They started dating around November 2018, and by Christmas Eve of that same year, Safaree was down on one knee. He did the whole thing with a house full of rose petals and a massive rock.
They officially tied the knot on October 7, 2019. The venue was the Legacy Castle in New Jersey, which is exactly as extra as it sounds. We’re talking gold everywhere, massive chandeliers, and a guest list packed with VH1 royalty. At the time, Erica was already pregnant with their first child together, Safire Majesty.
It felt like a turning point. You’ve seen Erica on "Love & Hip Hop" for years—she was the "firecracker" who fought everyone from Kimbella to Rich Dollaz. Seeing her settle into "Mrs. Samuels" mode was a huge shift for fans who had followed her since her early video vixen days in the Bronx.
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Why People Think She Was Married to Bow Wow
This is the biggest misconception out there. If you search for who Erica Mena was married to, Shad Moss (better known as Bow Wow) almost always pops up.
They were engaged.
Back in 2014, after a very famous on-camera kiss on "106 & Park," these two became the "it" couple of the moment. They were everywhere. Bow Wow gave her a massive ring, and they talked openly about planning a wedding. But they never actually made it to the courthouse. The relationship imploded in 2015 amid a lot of social media sniping and accusations of "playing house."
Erica later admitted that while she was ready to submit and be a wife in that relationship, it just wasn't the right fit. So, if you’re ever at a trivia night: Engagement? Yes. Marriage? No.
The Messy Reality of the Samuels Divorce
The marriage to Safaree didn't last nearly as long as the fan base hoped. By May 2021, while Erica was pregnant with their second child, Legend Brian, she officially filed for divorce.
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She called the marriage "irretrievably broken." That’s legal speak for "there is no way on earth we are fixing this."
The split was brutal. It wasn't just about moving out; there were public arguments about Safaree not being present for the birth of their son and claims of financial abandonment. The divorce was finalized in September 2022.
The Financial Fallout
A judge eventually ordered Safaree to pay $4,305 a month in child support. For most people, that’s a lot of money. For reality stars living in mansions in Georgia, it became a point of major contention.
- September 2022: Divorce finalized.
- The Settlement: Safaree handed over child support but the drama didn't stop there.
- Recent Legal Wins: Just recently, in early 2026, Erica shared that she won a significant victory in her ongoing child support battle, claiming she had been carrying the financial burden of their two kids alone for years.
The Relationships That Weren't Marriages
To understand Erica’s journey, you have to look at the people who shaped her life before the "Mrs." title ever existed.
Raul Conde: He’s the father of her eldest son, King. Raul was a member of Terror Squad, and their relationship was famously volatile. If you watch the early seasons of "Love & Hip Hop: New York," their screaming matches are legendary. They never married, but the co-parenting struggle there set the stage for how Erica handles her family life now.
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Rich Dollaz: This was the manager-turned-lover era. It was messy, business-focused, and filled with "he said, she said" drama. Again, no rings here.
Cyn Santana: This was groundbreaking. Erica and Cyn’s relationship was one of the first high-profile LGBTQ+ storylines on reality TV. They were deeply in love on screen, but they eventually hit a wall when Erica started leaning toward the romance with Bow Wow.
What’s the Situation Now?
As of early 2026, Erica Mena is single. Or at least, she isn't married.
She has spent the last few years focusing on her three children—King, Safire, and Legend. Her public life has been defined by a series of legal battles and a very public firing from "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" after a racially charged dispute with co-star Spice.
But when people ask who she was married to, the answer remains Safaree Samuels. It was a chapter of her life that brought her two children and a whole lot of life lessons about the difference between a television romance and a legal contract.
Your Next Steps for Following the Story
If you're trying to keep up with the fallout of the Mena-Samuels era, you should probably:
- Check the Georgia Court Records: Most of the recent child support updates are filed in Fayette County, which is where the most accurate financial details live.
- Watch the "Love & Hip Hop" Vault: Specifically, Season 10 of the New York franchise gives the most "behind the scenes" look at the actual wedding prep before the marriage soured.
- Monitor the Socials: Erica and Safaree both tend to air their co-parenting grievances on Instagram Stories before deleting them hours later—so if you want the "receipts" she often talks about, that's where they appear first.