Nelly Says He Married Ashanti Because He “Didn’t Want Her To Be A Baby Mama

Nelly is opening up about his relationship with Ashanti, including detailing the moment they reconnected. Speaking with Bootleg Kev of Real 92.3 LA, the St. Louis native explained that while he and the R&B singer did hug one another at the 2021 Verzuz between Fat Joe and Ja Rule, they did not immediately hit it off. “When I went to Verzuz, I had somebody with me,” he reflected. “We didn’t even talk. I just went over, got a hug…break the ice…We didn’t talk for another almost 8-9 months to a year. We didn’t have a conversation. He continued to detail after the host joked that the couple figured out how to “hide a wedding “Once we found out that she was pregnant, I was just like yeah… We hadn’t talked about any of that yet,” hesitantly explaining his desire to not have a child out of wedlock. “But I was like, ‘Yo, you know what. Let’s just knock this out because we’re gonna be doing so much, and everything’s moving so fast,’” the 50-year-old explained. “And I didn’t want her to be a baby mama. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2023. Their love story began decades ago, as they first dated in 2003 and broke up in 2013. Ashanti gave birth to their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes in July 2024, and the “Foolish” singer is excited to grow their family. “We’re going to add some more,” revealed the 44-year-old earlier this year. “Definitely a girl to balance it out. I’m outnumbered in the house right now. So, a girl would be great.

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