Last year, Ashanti ignited suspicions of a pregnancy with Nelly by laying her hands on her stomach at an event. These suspicions were confirmed in April, when the couple revealed Ashanti’s pregnancy and engagement.
However, the 43-year-old singer admitted that she was unaware of her pregnancy during the belly-touching incident. “We truly didn’t know. “I hadn’t even taken a test at that time,” she told Entertainment Tonight in an interview released on Tuesday.
Ashanti confirmed that she was adjusting a pendant on her dress when she touched her stomach, causing pregnancy speculations. Last December, footage from Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St. Louis showed Ashanti with her hands on her stomach. Polow da Don commented, “Seal the deal,” as Nelly briefly touched her item, causing giggles.
As Ashanti turned them away from the crowd, Nelly smiled and caressed her pendant once more. “I was pushing it down, and he’s like, making it look like something,” she said to ET. “And I’m like, ‘No!'”
Ashanti told ET she assumed she was pregnant after missing her period after the event. Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy and FaceTimed Nelly to deliver the news, she confessed.
“I couldn’t wait; (I) had to get it out,” she stated. “And he was just like, ‘Oh I knew.'”
“He was so happy and we were both smiling and it was so funny,” she said. “I was actually at his mother’s house…” He was at the studio. It was a very cool moment. There was a little bit of everything.
Nelly has two adult children from prior relationships: Chanelle Haynes (30) and Cornell Haynes III (25). After his late sister died of illness in 2005, he adopted her children, Shawn and Sydney Thomas.
Ashanti described her engagement to ET as “just such a beautiful, intimate moment.” We weren’t dressed up.”
“The way it happened was really humorous. I’m sitting in bed, watching TV while wearing boxers. “It’s not sexy,” she said. I cried. I gave him the greatest embrace and kiss ever. I FaceTimed with everyone I know. I was pleased, shocked, amazed, and happy all at once.”
Ashanti revealed that their child will arrive before their wedding, and she has set a precise month for the event.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Ashanti and Nelly had a ten-year on-and-off relationship that began after both were nominated for and won Grammy Awards in 2003. DJ City reportedly gave Nelly Ashanti’s phone number following their reunion in 2021 at Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz duel.
Following months of speculation, Nelly announced in a September 2023 interview on “Boss Moves with Rasheeda” that he and Ashanti were back together. He referred to their relationship as “cool again.”