Debbi Morgan and Jeffrey Winston attend Tyler Perry Studios grand opening gala on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia ; Vanessa Martinez and Xavier Smalls attend the 2025 BET Awards on June 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty ; Emma McIntyre/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black first debuted in 2024
Many of the show’s cast members are married, including Taylor Polidore Williams and Xavier Smalls
The second part of the show’s second season began streaming on March 19
Tyler Perry‘s series Beauty in Black is returning to Netflix for season 2, part 2 on March 19 — six months after the first batch of episodes dropped.
The show always manages to bring the drama, but when it comes to many of the cast members’ real romantic lives, the situation couldn’t be more different. While the Netflix series is salacious, filled with toxic relationships, many of the show’s cast members are in long-term partnerships.
Leading woman Taylor Polidore Williams married her husband in early 2024, writing on Instagram at the time, “thank you to my husband for everything. I truly just wanted to say my husband because he already knows how grateful I am lol. 😝.”
Like Williams, other cast members have recently tied the knot, including Xavier Smalls and his wife, Vanessa Martinez, who wed in December 2024 — two months after Beauty in Black premiered.
Here’s everything to know about the real-life partners of the Beauty in Black cast.
01 of 09
Taylor Polidore Williams and Jero Williams
Jero Williams and Taylor Polidore Williams in January 2017
Credit: Taylor Polidore Williams/ Instagram
Williams, who plays Kimmie, married her husband, Jero Williams, on May 4, 2024, after getting engaged on Christmas Day in 2022.
“Best day of my life! Thank you to my husband for everything,” the actress wrote on Instagram alongside photos from the couple’s wedding at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Jero attended Morehouse College and is currently a surgical resident.
02 of 09
Crystle Stewart
Crystle Stewart attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Apple TV+’s “Number One on the Call Sheet” at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 12, 2025 in Hollywood, California.
Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty
Stewart, who plays Mallory, married Belgian-born model Max Sebrechts in August 2014. They share two children, daughter Anne-Jolie and son Max Jr.
“Little munchkins change your life, it’s these good moments that I keep close to my heart and which I will cherish for a long time 😘,” Sebrechts captioned a September 2023 Instagram post of their children. “They even may make bad days turn good 😊.”
Stewart and Sebrechts have not shared news of a break-up, but have not posted about each other since 2023, and no longer follow each other. Sebrechts has also started posting photos with another woman.
03 of 09
Xavier Smalls and Vanessa Martinez
Vanessa Martinez and Xavier Smalls attend the 2025 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty
Xavier Smalls, who plays Angel, proposed to makeup artist Vanessa Martinez in August 2023.
“I love you forever Vanessa, can’t wait to see what God has in store for our relationship and future family,” he wrote on Instagram after popping the question.
The couple later wed on Dec. 7, 2024, in Mexico, per Instagram. Smalls and Martinez are already parenting one child and announced in June 2025 that they were expecting another. That month, she debuted her baby bump on the red carpet at the BET Awards alongside her husband.
Smalls announced that he and Martinez had welcomed their new baby boy, Xavier August Smalls, in an Instagram post in September 2025.
04 of 09
Steven G. Norfleet and Anthony Hemingway
Steven G. Norfleet and Anthony Hemingway attend LOVED01: Skincare by John Legend launch event at Skybar on March 07, 2023 in West Hollywood, California
Credit: Getty
Steven G. Norfleet, who portrays Charles, and Anthony Hemingway tied the knot in September 2019 after getting engaged the year prior. According to The New York Times, actress Aisha Hinds officiated the nuptials, which took place at the Newhall Mansion in Piru, Calif.
“My experience as an African-American man is that we can have it the hardest with being comfortable and open with our sexuality,” Norfleet told the outlet. “But once we got together, I realized this is someone that I’m truly in love with, and I don’t want to hide it.”
Other celebrities in attendance at the 300-guest wedding included Regina King, Sterling K. Brown, Sarah Paulson and Josh Duhamel.
“High five to five years of love, laughter, and peace! From ‘I DO’ to ‘WE STILL’. Five years in, forever to go! I love you best friend!” Hemingway wrote on Instagram in honor of the couple’s 5th wedding anniversary in September 2024.
05 of 09
Charles Malik Whitfield and Rosie Whitfield
Charles Malik Whitfield and Rosie Whitfield attend the Premiere Of TUBI’s “Stepmother 3” held at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Glendale on June 05, 2023 in Glendale, California
Credit: Getty
Charles Malik Whitfield, who plays Jules, is married to Rosie Whitfield. The couple share a son, Leo. Charles is also a father to three daughters, Lexi, Kiara and Madisyn, and a son, Malik.
In May 2020, Charles wished his wife a happy Mother’s Day, thanking her for her support.
“Screaming Happy Mother’s Day to my wife Rosie that hold this home together with ❤️,” he wrote on Instagram.
06 of 09
Debbi Morgan and Jeffrey Winston
Jeffrey Winston and Debbi Morgan at Prime Video’s ‘Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black’ Premiere on July 8, 2024, in New York
Credit: Shutterstock
Debbi Morgan, who portrays Olivia, has been married to her fourth husband, Jeffrey Winston, since July 13, 2009.
“15 years of wedded bliss. I love you Honey!” the actress wrote on Instagram in honor of the couple’s wedding anniversary in July 2024.
Morgan was formerly married to actor Charles Weldon from 1980 to 1984; actor Charles Dutton from 1989 to 1994 and photographer Donn Thompson from 1997 to 2000.
07 of 09
Ricco Ross and Julie Ross
Julie Ross and Ricco Ross attend the PHOENIX Tv Series Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere at Regal LA Live on July 13, 2024 in Los Angeles
Credit: Getty
Ricco Ross, who plays Horace, is married to his “Goddess” Julie Shannon Ross. He is also a father to daughters Aisha and Makaila and son Rami.
Ross often posts about taking trips with his wife, including a Las Vegas road trip in October 2024 and a New York City stay the month prior to ringing in Julie’s birthday.
08 of 09
Richard Lawson
Richard Lawson attends the Beauty in Black Special Screening at IPIC Atlanta on October 21, 2024 in Atlanta,
Credit: Getty
Richard Lawson, who plays Norman, was previously married to Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Knowles. The couple wed in 2015 before eventually filing for divorce in July 2023.
The actor has two children: daughter Bianca, whom he welcomed with his ex-wife, Denise Gordy, and a son named Ricky.
09 of 09
Bryan Tanaka
Bryan Tanaka attends the Beauty in Black Special Screening at IPIC Atlanta on October 21, 2024 in Atlanta
Credit: Getty
Actor and dancer Bryan Tanaka, who plays Officer Alex, formerly dated Mariah Carey for more than seven years. The couple got together in 2016 but eventually split in 2023.
“Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared,” Tanaka said in a statement, posted on Instagram in December 2023.
He added: “The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.”
Read the original article on People
