Yandy Smith-Harris of Love and Hip-Hop New York can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Her husband and LHHNY castmate Mendeecees Harris was released from prison today after serving four years according to The Shade Room.
Harris was sentenced to eight-to-ten years in prison on drug-trafficking charges back in 2016. Before surrendering, Mendeecees said his “see you later’s” to his family and the tear-filled emotional moment leading up to his imprisonment aired for all to see on the VH1 reality show.
Yandy and Mendeeces wed in 2015 and shared their engagement and wedding journey with Love and Hip Hop viewers. Shortly after, Mendeecees’ past came back to haunt the newlyweds and the pair was forced to face the possibility that their family would be separated as jail time was imminent. The duo has two children together in addition to Mendeecees’ two sons from previous relationships.
It’s no surprise that Yandy stood by her husband during his season of need. She has always had Mendeecees’ best interests at heart and treated his children as her own. In an exclusive interview with on XO Necole Yandy expressed that helping care for Mendeecees’ children taught her what she needed to learn about nurturing and caring for little ones before she had any of her own.
Yandy kept herself busy while Mendeecees was away serving his prison sentence. When Smith was first introduced on Love and Hip Hop NY as rapper Jim Jones’ manager, she was a neutral force in a drama-ridden cast. Her business acumen and boss-mentality took center stage as Yandy often served as the voice of reason when drama arouse between her cast mates.
During Mendeeces’ incarceration she used her diplomacy skills to tackle social justice issues in addition to filming for the show and caring for her children. When news of inhumane conditions in a Brooklyn detention center reached her, Yandy took to the front lines to protest. Apparently inmates were being housed without heat or electricity. She used her voice and status to stand up against perceived human rights violations and was even pepper sprayed by law enforcement in the process according to TMZ.
Yandy managed to turn her husband’s incarceration into a positive situation. She welcomed a foster child named Infinity into her home and eventually filed papers to initiate the adoption process to make the situation permanent.
Back in 2018 when she sat down for an interview on Power 105.1 morning show “The Breakfast Club” Smith opened up more about the decision to foster and noted that she did not believe her reality TV persona would be a hindrance in the adoption process.
The adoption was finalized in 2019 and Yandy has fully committed to making a difference in the teenager’s life.
Now that Mendeecees is free, the family can spend necessary time bonding to make up for lost time. Though Mendeecees has not yet addressed the public, Yandy posted a video on her Instagram profile with the caption “Freedom 2020.. . .never going back @mendeeecees.”
The video shows her and Mendeecees exiting an SUV. In true New York fashion, he holds a pair of camel-colored Timberland boots in his hand and Yandy stylishly rocks a floor-length fur coat. The two can now resume their life together and hopefully put all this behind them.
