Ashanti’s Mom Speaks Out On Pregnancy

On March 10th, The Shade Room posted a video to Instagram that shows Ashanti’s “momager,” Tina Douglas, reacting to allegations that Ashanti and Nelly are expecting a child together. The Shade Room wrote that Tina had “corrected a host who attempted to congratulate #Ashanti on her alleged pregnancy.” 

Tina appeared on a panel discussion, and after the host congratulated her on Ashanti’s pregnancy, Tina said, “There has been no announcement… it hasn’t come out yet…” and, “Until I hear it from Ashanti and Nelly…” she wasn’t confirming anything.

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The host then claimed, “My bad,” and that she assumed congratulations were in order because the news was “public.” Tina corrected the host again, claiming she wasn’t trying to “twist it.” Tina said that while the alleged pregnancy is “public” knowledge, she has yet to hear it officially from her daughter or Nelly, so until she does, she won’t be confirming anything.

Us Weekly published an exclusive on December 4, 2023, alleging that Ashanti had rekindled her romance with Nelly last year and she was expecting her first child. A source told Us Weekly, “Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together.” Ashanti is 43 years old, and Nelly is 49.

Nelly and Ashanti Allegedly Hinted at a Pregnancy

Us Weekly reported that TMZ had acquired a “fan video” taken during Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St. Louis last year. The video shows Ashanti and Nelly on stage together, and they both put a hand on her stomach. Then they began to laugh, and TMZ claimed that Ashanti and Nelly “seemingly” hinted that they were having a baby in that video.

Us Weekly wrote about Ashanti and Nelly’s romantic history, including their first meeting at a Grammy Awards press conference 24 years ago. After Ashanti and Nelly began dating in 2000, they remained an “on and off” couple for many years before announcing their breakup in 2013. It wasn’t until April 2023 that reconciliation rumors heated up after Ashanti and Nelly were spotted in Vegas—holding hands at a boxing match.

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Us Weekly claimed that Nelly, Ashanti, or their sources did not confirm the relationship until September 2023, when a clip of Nelly appeared on Philo TV’s Boss Moves with Rasheeda. In the clip, Nelly alleges that he and Ashanti are “cool again.” He also claimed that their rekindled romance “surprised both of us though,” and he admitted, “I don’t think [it] was planned.”

An exclusive source also told Us Weekly in September 2023 that Ashanti “didn’t expect to get back together with Nelly after 10 years apart.”  The source revealed that Ashanti would never have expected a reconciliation with Nelly a few years ago. The source claimed, “they’re enjoying spending time together,” although “they don’t want to rush anything.”

Nelly Shared His Extravagant Birthday Gift to Social Media

Ashanti and Nelly went Instagram official in October 2023, when Nelly posted a carousel of photos with Ashanti to celebrate her birthday. He captioned the slideshow, “One time for the birthday girl.”

Nelly also wrote that Ashanti is “such a beautiful, and incredible person inside and out and one of the hardest working women” that he knows. On social media, Nelly told Ashanti, “Enjoy your day, Ma… you look awesome!” He wished her a happy birthday and said, “Love ya!!!!”

Us also received exclusive confirmation from a source that Ashanti gave Nelly a car for his 49th birthday. Nelly’s birthday was November 2, 2023. The source claimed that Ashanti had been “planning this surprise for months, and it was such a hard secret to keep.”

The source added that seeing Nelly’s reaction to the birthday gift “made it all worthwhile” for Ashanti because Nelly was “in total shock and overcome with emotion when he saw it.” Allegedly, Ashanti’s gift meant the world to Nelly because the car had a “sentimental reason” behind it.

The source revealed to Us that Ashanti’s birthday gift to Nelly had been his “dream car since he was a kid,” and Nelly could not believe that Ashanti gave him “such a thoughtful gift.”The source also claimed that Nelly’s new car was “one of the best presents he’s ever received.”

When Nelly shared his gift on social media, he allegedly dropped a huge hint that he and Ashanti were planning on starting a family together. This happened when a fan responded to his post with the comment, “Get her pregnant @nelly.” He replied, “I’m on it.”

If Ashanti and Nelly are expecting their first child together, the baby will be number three for Nelly. He shares a 29-year-old daughter and 24-year-old son with his ex, Chanetta Valentine.