Lenny Kravitz Gives an Update on His 20-Year-Old Celibacy Vow: ‘It’s a Spiritual Thing’

Mark Seliger

When Lenny Kravitz makes a promise, he keeps it. And yes, that includes the celibacy pledge he made back in 2005, with the 60-year-old rock star confirming in a Guardian interview published Thursday (May 30) that he’s still holding firm on his vow to abstain from intercourse until he meets his soul mate.

During the interview, Kravitz first broached the subject of sex while discussing how his father — who he alleged in his 2020 memoir had several affairs — once told the singer that he, too, would become a cheater someday.

“He became right,” Kravitz confessed. “After [my] marriage, I became more like him. I was becoming a player … I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to be that guy. So I had to tackle that and it took years.”

The “Again” musician was married to actress Lisa Bonet from 1987 to 1993, during which they welcomed daughter Zoë. He told the publication that he curbed his negative behaviors “by taking responsibility” and “not letting my own desires take over,” a path that eventually led him to revealing he’d taken a personal vow of celibacy in 2005.

“[It’s] just a promise I made until I get married,” he told Maxim at the time. “Where I’m at in life, the women have got to come with something else, not just the body, but the mind and spirit.”

Nearly 20 years later, Kravitz revealed to The Guardian that it’s been nine years since he was last in a serious relationship. But has he stayed celibate? “Yes,” he said. “It’s a spiritual thing.”

The Hunger Games alum is now fresh off the release of his latest album Blue Electric Light, which arrived May 24. Aside from music, he’s been prioritizing his fitness regimen and spirituality lately — something he opened up about in his recent interview with Billboard.

“Exercising and retaining my faith in God and God’s plan for me,” he said earlier this month when asked about his values. “Exercising faith, patience, all the things that I learned growing up. If [something is] really yours and meant to be yours, you will have it — that takes faith, you know. All these virtues that I learned growing up – building on a strong foundation, no shortcuts – ring true to this day.”