Nelly and Ashanti first met in 2003 and have had an on-and-off relationship over the years before they rekindled things in 2022.
American musician Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, popularly known by her first name, has finally confirmed that she is expecting her first child.
She made the official announcement on April 17, 2024 in a widely viewed clip on her Instagram with the caption: "Baby baby baby baby…." coming after months of speculations.
The Grammy-award winning artist also followed up the announcement with a second clip of her growing baby bump tagging Cornell Iral Haynes Jr "Nelly", in the second video.
Nelly and Ashanti first met in 2003 during a press tour for the GRAMMYs. Their mutual involvement in the music industry facilitated their acquaintance and they quickly became friends.
Although they kept it relatively private, Nelly and Ashanti began dating shortly after they met. Their relationship became one of the most talked-about pairings in the R&B and hip-hop scenes.
For the next five years after they started dating, Nelly and Ashanti seemed to have a stable relationship. They managed to keep their relationship relatively private, despite both being in the spotlight.
It wasn't until around 2008 that they publicly acknowledged their relationship. By this time, they were often seen together at various high-profile events.
Between 2008 and 2010, when their relationship became more public, the first signs of trouble started to emerge. Reports indicated that their busy schedules and the demands of their careers were putting a strain on their relationship.
Media outlets reported that the breakup was due to trust issues and the challenges of maintaining a relationship in the public eye. Both parties spoke about the breakup in subsequent interviews, citing personal growth and professional focus as reasons for the split.