Nelly and Ashanti are trending after a report from Us weekly that the singer-actress is pregnant with the rapper’s child.
Contacted by Yahoo Entertainment, a representative for Ashanti had no comment. A representative for Nelly did not immediately respond.
The report followed one from TMZ, which said that while appearing at Nelly’s 11th Black and White Ball for charity in his hometown of St. Louis, he and Ashanti both posed for photos with his hands on his stomach as part of a possible “inside joke”.
The couple has a long history together, with years as a couple – perhaps longer than we realize, because they left us guessing exactly when they would be an item.
Here’s a look back:
January 7, 2003: Nelly and Ashanti meet and get along
She revealed on an episode of VH1 Behind the music that she met her future love at the 2003 Grammy Awards announcement event. A photograph of them was taken.
“The first time I met Nelly he asked me for my autograph but I think he was being sarcastic and I remember writing that on the show,” she told the show. “That photo appeared in as many publications as anything else, but it all started as a joke. For the record, it took him a long time to get my number.”
February 1, 2006: Nelly and Ashanti are photographed on a date
The artists appear together at a party for Diddy’s new fragrance. It’s a big deal because she said that even though they dated, they “aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”
December 13, 2009: Ashanti co-stars in Nelly’s sexy video for “Body on Me”
The two look seductive on screen. There are signs they are dating – like when she denies they are dating but says they I plan to get engaged at some point in the future – but for the most part, they still keep their personal lives under wraps.
December 14, 2010: Nelly clarifies his relationship with Ashanti and says he is not ready for marriage
The “Just a Dream” rapper reveals in an interview with RapUpTV that he and Ashanti are taking it slow.
“At the moment we are friends, I am married to my work”, he explains. “I’m married to the ability to get things in a given situation right now and she’s married to the ability to get things in a given situation right now.”
He says marriage is something he takes very seriously.
“What people don’t understand is that I think you really need to be friends first, that’s it,” he says. “It’s not about how long it takes, there’s no time limit on this. If you want to get married more than once, I’m not a person who wants to be in a relationship more than once. You will die if you leave me.
March 5, 2014: Ashanti says she has ‘no beef’ with Nelly
Amid breakup rumors, Ashanti gives a especially sincere statement on Nelly’s status with her: “It’s a very small industry. Will we see each other? Yeah… I’m not bitter,” she says in an interview with radio station Hot 97. “I feel like I’m in a relationship, it’s like ping pong. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them. That’s a real statement, everyone goes through it.
March 13, 2015: Ashanti confirms she and Nelly have broken up
During an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Showthe host says, “You’re not together anymore and said it’s basically about trust, and I think that’s something that so many women deal with. How do you deal with trust in relationships? Why do you think it’s hard to trust someone ?”
“I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities, it allows them to act out of character,” Ashanti responds. “I was betrayed. And I feel like… again, you just need to grow up. You have to grow up. You have to accept responsibility for the things you do. You know, I’m not a big fan of people being cowards.”
September 15, 2021: Nelly and Ashanti reunite in Verzuz
Ja Rule and Fat Joe’s Verzuz the battle features a cameo from the two, although neither of them knew it would happen. He comes to hug her on stage during the group’s performance.
“Now look, this is the crazy part: I had no idea he was going to be there,” she told Ja Rule later on Instagram Live. “I haven’t seen him or spoken to him since we broke up. Six years or something? So I didn’t know what to expect.”
And he also looked surprised.
“I saw his eyes get big and I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she says. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was positive.”
December 2022: Ashanti and Nelly are ‘in a better place’
On December 4th, the duo performs again! This time they play “Body on Me” on the Arizona radio stations’ holiday show.
Then, on December 14, Ashanti told Andy Cohen, in her See what happens livethat she was shocked by fans’ positive response to her reunion with Nelly.
“My reaction was wow,” she says. “There were a lot of comments and a lot of people wanting this. What I will say is that we are in a better position.”
They were fighting.
“But we’re fine now,” says Ashanti. “Yes, we have some conversations, you know. So it’s okay.”
June 9, 2023: Nelly and Ashanti are back on the red carpet together
The two have a date night at a glamorous event in Atlanta. Her appearance marks her first time on the red carpet since 2012, according to People. (See top photo.)
September 12, 2023: Nelly and Ashanti confirm they are officially reunited
He does this for the first time during an appearance on Philo’s Boss moves with Rasheeda. When asked if they were back together, he said, “Yes. We’re good again. I think it surprised both of us. It wasn’t anything that was, I don’t think, planned. I think we were both pretty much doing what we do. But Sometimes being apart, you understand each other more.”
That night, on the 2023 MTV VMAs red carpet, Ashanti says E! that the pair reunited. The singer is asked about this because she carries a clutch with a photo of them together at the same event, 20 years earlier. She thought the accessory “could be cute” and, of course, it was.
October 13, 2023: Nelly pays tribute to Ashanti on her birthday and surprises her with a necklace
“Such a beautiful and amazing person inside and out,” he wrote as part of a sweet note beneath a collection of photos that captured the two together. The post makes clear what fans have inferred for months, especially from his August post of them singing Usher’s “Nice and Slow”.”
As for the gift, Nelly gave Ashanti a diamond necklace and watch.
November 4, 2023: Ashanti gives birthday love – and a car! – to Nelly
Although they keep their relationship largely private, Ashanti, like Nelly, has been very open about her feelings for him, in a caption for videos and photos of them together. They showed her presenting him with her gift: a beautiful car.
“One of the kindest, most genuine men I have ever met,” she wrote. “You have such a big heart and are ALWAYS giving to others. Today is YOUR day!!! I love you! Happy birthday.”
December 4, 2023: Us Weekly reports that Ashanti is pregnant with the couple’s first child.
This would be the couple’s first child together. He is already the father of four adult children, including two from previous relationships and a niece and nephew he adopted. Their mother was his sister, Jackie, who died of leukemia in 2005.
