Justin Timberlake made headlines when he was arrested on grounds of driving while intoxicated. He spent a night in jail and was released the next day, according to CNN. But, was Justin really caught drunk driving or were the cops way out of line?
Justin’s lawyer, as reported by Billboard, seems to be leaning towards the latter option and has come forward to make his legal plans publicly known.
Here are the details we could dig up on Justin’s DWI and his lawyer’s statements:
Legal Fighting Words
Justin’s lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., has released a public statement regarding his client’s legal case and seems confident that they will come out victorious in the end. Billboard reports that he said:
“[We] look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake against these allegations. He will have a lot to say at the appropriate time. He is currently awaiting full discovery from the DA’s office.”
Justin’s unfortunate run-in with the law happened in a part of Long Island, New York known as Sag Harbor. He was arrested after leaving the American Hotel in that area. Although Justin did end up spending a night in jail in Sag Harbor, he was released without bail shortly thereafter, according to CNN.
Although Justin’s lawyer is talking a big game right now, his future remains uncertain, given the charges he’s currently facing.
Why Was Justin Timberlake Arrested?
Apparently, Justin’s driving got officers’ attention on a Monday night in Sag Harbor. Michael Arkinson, the police officer who filed a report on the incident included details about Justin’s eyes and behavior at the time. According to Billboard, the report contained the following:
“[Justin] was observed operating a 2025 BMW southbound on Madison Street, failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign and failing to maintain his lane of travel. […]
It was ascertained that the defendant was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition in that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.”
CNN reported that Justin refused to complete a chemical test (breathalyzer) three times. When he failed the field sobriety tests he was given, he was taken to jail.
Justin is Just Moving On
Justin doesn’t seem to have been too upset about the incident and he continued his Forget Tomorrow world tour as soon as he could.
He even took time to post a nice message for his kids on Father’s Day, according to CNN. It read:
“My 2 greatest gifts. I learn more about myself everyday just because you both chose me to be your Daddy. I will always be there for you through your peaks and valleys… to lift you up and show you how high you can take this life and to pick you up when you fall. And, of course, to flood you with insufferable Dad-jokes all along the way. I love you both so much. Thank you for giving me my biggest purpose. Now… for today: let’s play a game where we all just chill and let Dad watch the final round of The US Open.”
Photo credits: Dr. Dre Instagram and La Tanya Danielle Young/Instagram
Dr. Dre is one of the most well-known and powerful people in the music industry. However, his eldest daughter regularly calls him out for being an absent father. Many people are familiar with Dre’s younger daughters with longtime wife Nicole. Now find out what life is like for his second child, La Tanya Young.
Dr. Dre’s 8 Children
Dr. Dre has eight children, including his first with Cassandra Green when he was just 16 years old. He did not have a relationship with his oldest child, Curtis, for 20 years.
His second child was daughter La Tanya, whom he had with Lisa Johnson in 1983. La Tanya has been a very vocal critic of her father and stated in past interviews that Dre lied to her and didn’t support her. Dr. Dre also had two more children with Lisa Johnson.
Following his relationship with La Tanya, Dr. Dre had a son named Andre Young Jr. with Jenita Porter. She later sued Dre for child support. Dre’s sixth son, Marcel, was with fellow Ruthless singer Michel’le. Finally, his last two children were with his wife, Nicole Threatt.
Dr. Dre’s Daughter, La Tanya, Was Homeless
Several years ago, La Tanya spoke out about her father and the level of interaction that she has with him. With eight kids, it’s going to be difficult to spend equal time with everyone, especially when they are with several different women.
However, La Tanya has been very outspoken about Dre’s absence, especially in her adult years. In 2021, she gained a lot of traction on social media after doing an interview with the Daily Mail.
In the interview, she explained that she was homeless and living in a rental car. Even worse, she was using the car for rideshare to make extra money, and she wasn’t going to be able to afford future rental payments.
It’s always sad to hear stories of people struggling, and it is far too common. What makes this whole thing absolutely ridiculous is that her father is a multi-millionaire and one of the wealthiest people in the music industry. That doesn’t mean he has to give all his money away, but most people help their children if they can afford it.
La Tanya Young Worked Multiple Jobs To Make Ends Meet
Additionally, La Tanya was clearly working at the time as she was working an assembly line at a warehouse and also driving for DoorDash and Uber Eats. However, the high cost of living in California meant she still couldn’t afford an apartment. She also said that the rental payment on the car was a whopping $2,300 for just three weeks, so it would be cheaper to actually get an apartment.
Fortunately, La Tanya said that her kids were safe and did not live in the car with her. She also said that she sometimes stayed with friends.
In Dre’s defense, La Tanya was 38 years old at the time of the interview and admitted to being underwater in debt. Additionally, Dre was going through a lot, including suffering a brain aneurysm earlier that same year. He also had to pay his ex-wife Nicole $300,000 in spousal support. So, it’s safe to say that he probably wasn’t in a very giving mood when La Tanya came looking for money.
Photo credits: Chilli/Instagram and Usher/Instagram
Usher has a pretty long list of past romances, many of which ended in less than friendly terms.
But although Usher and Chilli haven’t been romantically linked for years, fans are still curious to find out more about what really happened between them.
How Chilli and Usher Met
They first met all the way back in 1993 when Usher signed with LaFace Records, where Chilli was also recording as a member of TLC.
At the time of signing his deal, Usher was just 14 years old, while Chilli was 21.
However, it would be almost ten years later before they would finally get together.
While they were dating, they grew a lot closer in their professional lives, too.
Chilli featured in several of Usher’s music videos in the early 2000s, including You Got It Bad and U Remind Me.
In 2003, the couple made one of their most well-publicized appearances together at the Grammy Awards.
Fans were thrilled to see the glamorous pair together, but this might have marked the beginning of the end for Usher and Chilli.
Chilli and Usher’s Scandalous Rumors
The following year, allegations surrounding their breakup led to public outcry.
The circumstances of their split were the focus of a lot of attention, and some pretty scandalous rumors emerged which would capture the imagination of R&B fans for years.
In 2004, Chilli first hinted that the split might have come about due to infidelity on Usher’s part.
Fans were scandalized to hear her say on The Bert Show that while they were together, Usher committed the so-called ultimate no-no.
The implication seemed pretty obvious to most fans.
Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas’ Damning Remarks
This was made worse when Chilli went on to add that she wouldn’t ever take Usher back.
Fans were stunned by Chilli’s comments, but things only got more serious with her next damning remarks.
Chilli said, “If someone cheat[s] one time, you don’t wait around to see if they’re going to do it again.”
How Usher Responded to Cheating Allegations
Usher then fell under the spotlight of a critical public, but he chose not to respond directly to any of the allegations.
At least, not in interviews.
Instead, Usher went on to release one of the most influential R&B albums in history, which also appeared to serve as his way of dealing with his relationship troubles.
Confessions was released in March 2004.
It was a huge commercial and critical success.
But many fans also thought that Confessions was Usher’s outlet to express feelings of guilt about what happened with Chilli.
In Confessions Part II, Usher alluded to an affair with a mistress which was thought to take inspiration from Usher’s real life.
Usher Raymond Shut Down Infidelity Rumors
It wasn’t long before Usher was facing questions about the reasons behind his breakup.
However, any idea of Usher being unfaithful to Chilli was quickly shut down.
In response to the rumors, Usher said that he loved Chilli, but things just didn’t work out.
He added that “cheating was not what caused the relationship to collide and crash.”
Usher also explained that much of the album’s material was inspired by situations his friends had gone through.
In 2006, producer Jermaine Dupri backed this up by claiming that Usher was inspired by his own affair, in which he cheated on his girlfriend and had a baby with another woman.
Chilli Confronted Usher About Cheating Allegations
It would be a few years before we heard from either Chilli or Usher again on what happened between them.
In 2010, Chilli featured on an episode of VH1’s Behind the Music, in which she touched on her old romance.
She remembered hearing some rumors that Usher had been unfaithful, which she then confronted the singer about.
Chilli Said Usher Admitted Cheating Rumors Were True
And what Chilli claimed happened next threw everything into doubt once again.
She said that Usher admitted that the rumors were true.
She went on to explain what a “fool” she felt she’d been due to everyone else knowing something she didn’t.
However, the story took another twist a few years later.
Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas Retracted Shocking Cheating Claims
In 2013, Chilli made a full retraction of her shocking claims.
She told Us Magazine that Usher never cheated on her and added that he was her first true love.
She even stated that the couple were still together when Usher was making the Confessions album, which seemed to prove that it couldn’t have been about her.
She also backed up Jermaine’s claims that he was the real subject of the songs.
Chilli blamed the timing of their breakup and the album’s release for fuelling the rumors that infidelity had been the cause of their split.
Instead, Chilli only said that they broke up because it was the right time.
Chilli Said ‘There’s No Hard Feelings …’
The TLC star also made it clear that in the years since, she had held no ill will toward her ex.
She said that she didn’t care how much it hurt her to split up because she believed that she was with Usher for a reason and that didn’t have to mean they stayed together forever.
Chilli insisted that these days, “There’s no hard feelings, nothing like that. It’s all good.”
Usher Opened Up About His Romance With Chilli
For his part, Usher has also opened up more in recent years on his history with Chilli.
He reflected on their relationship in an interview with People magazine.
And what he revealed came as a big shock to fans of the former couple.
Regarding the significant age gap between him and Chilli, Usher joked that he was always charming the older ladies.
But it seemed like Chilli was a bit more special to the R&B megastar.
He admitted that when they first met, he was Chilli’s number 1 fan.
He described her as his superstar.
Interestingly, another song on Usher’s Confessions album was actually titled Superstar.
Usher even confessed to having a poster of Chilli in his bedroom wall when he was eight years old.
He claimed that when he first saw the poster, he promised himself that he would meet Chilli one day.
Usher Reveals Why His Relationship With Chilli Ended
Later in the interview, Usher finally talked about what caused the relationship to come to an end.
He explained that Chilli had a lot of special rules in a relationship that he was too young to work with.
He also suggested that there was a distance between them, possibly due to their busy schedules, that meant Chii couldn’t be there with Usher the way he wanted her to be.
Usher added that Chilli just didn’t believe that he was as in love with her as he claimed to be.
Usher Said ‘… I Proposed And She Told Me No’
This eventually pushed Usher to make a dramatic gesture that fans were shocked to hear him confess all these years later.
He actually decided to propose to Chilli while they were dating.
He said, “I wanted to marry her. I proposed and she told me no.”
After Chilli rejected his proposal, Usher felt hurt.
In his interview, he said that for a while, he struggled to trust women and didn’t want to open up again.
But that wasn’t the only factor in the relationship’s demise.
Usher Confessed To Hurting Chilli
In a cryptic sidenote, Usher also told People that he hurt Chilli, too.
However, he did not go further into what it was he did to hurt her, although he described the situation between them as heartbreaking.
While it seemed there was a lot of pain for both singers at the time of the breakup, it looks like time has healed their wounds.
These days, they have nothing but good things to say about each other, and both have agreed that infidelity was definitely not what led them to split up.
Kane Brown has a reputation, and that’s not a bad thing.
But there’s also a shocking story that Kane did something threatening to a fan, and the real truth might surprise you.
Kane is widely known as a devoted father and adoring husband to his beautiful wife, Katelyn Jae. They are also famous for their hit duet, “Thank God.”
That makes this story about Kane and that fan even harder to believe.
Did Kane Brown Threaten To Beat Man Up?
On June 10th, Yahoo Entertainment reposted an article from The Blast with a disturbing headline: “Kane Brown Threatens To Beat Man Up Before Kicking Him Out Of His Concert.”
Nothing about that headline jives with our image of Kane and his family. So, what exactly happened?
According to The Blast, 30-year-old Kane was performing a headlining show in Atlanta. The outlet also reported that Kane is taking his “In The Air” tour around the country, with big-city stops including Los Angeles, Seattle, and Boston.
‘Fan’ Gave Kane Brown The Middle Finger
Thankfully, Kane wasn’t acting rude or threatening someone for no reason. The Blast confirmed that a man in the crowd at Kane’s Atlanta concert began to “disrespect the country music artist,” and it finally got to the point that Kane had had enough.
The Blast confirmed that Kane “warned” the man who was disrespecting him in the audience after Kane noticed the guy’s bad behavior in the middle of a song.
Shockingly, this so-called “fan” gave Kane the middle finger, and Kane allegedly made it clear to everyone that he was willing to show this guy who was the real boss that night.
TikTok Video Exposes What Happened
But there’s additional proof on a TikTok video from the Atlanta concert on June 9th. This video currently has over 100,000 views, and the real truth is that Kane was not only ready to take that guy on right away, but he dealt with the whole situation without missing a note.
In the video, Kane was performing his hit, “I Can Feel It,” when you first notice him beckoning to someone in the crowd. He’s singling this person out, but at the same time, he’s keeping the beat going with his right foot. As many viewers have commented, Kane’s multi-tasking is impressive.
Kane Brown Said He’s ‘Gonna Beat’ Disrespecting Fan’s Backside
Unfortunately, you can also tell that the situation is getting on Kane’s nerves, and during a break in the song lyrics, he shockingly calls out to the guy, “Come here, I wanna show you what flipping me off will do.”
Kane finally got so fed up on stage that he uttered a very uncharacteristic threat into his microphone. He warned that he was “gonna beat” the disrespecting fan’s backside, but as The Blast reported, that ignorant guy in the crowd “never approached the stage.”
Still, Kane was unwilling to let it slide, and in the video, he beckons to a security guard. Then, Kane pointed to the guy who’d made the offensive gesture, and he told the security guard what to do.
Kane Said ‘Kick His A– Out Of Here’
First, he made sure the security guard knew who he was talking about. Kane said, “Hey, you see this dude…?” Kane followed up with a simple command to “Kick his a– out of here.”
The video currently has almost a thousand comments, and many of Kane’s Atlanta-based fans were thankful to see it online. Some fans commented that they were at State Farm Arena on June 9th but seated too far away from the stage to understand what was happening.
Whether or not you were lucky enough to be at this kick-butting Kane Brown show, the TikTok video is an impressive example of how chill and skilled Kane is on stage.
Fans Applaud And Commend Kane Brown
Someone singled out Kane’s mighty-looking “stare-down while still performing,” and they wrote, “I have no doubt he can throw hands.”
Another person didn’t sound as impressed about Kane getting physical to defend himself against some jerk in the crowd. They wrote that they’d been to one of Kane’s shows, and “so many kids were at the concert.”
They also wrote, “Kane prides himself on having a family-appropriate show,” and they added, “Good for him!” to stop a rude person from giving him an offensive gesture.
Another person on TikTok agreed with this viewpoint. They wrote that Kane “has integrity and respect for his fans, family, and himself.” Someone else commented, “Way to go, Kane! Perhaps people will learn how to be respectful,” and said, “More artists should do this!”
Some Question Kane Threatening Fan
But there are a couple of questions about Kane threatening a fan, which is on many people’s minds.
Who was the ignorant “fan” who did this in Atlanta, and why would they pay for an expensive ticket so close to the stage, then do something offensive to Kane and get kicked out?
Someone commented on TikTok, “You go to a Kane Brown concert and flip him off? That’s a good way to waste your money.”
The comments section of that TikTok video contained some insider information, with fans who’d bought tickets in the “pit” section around the stage sharing what they witnessed on June 9th in Atlanta.
Kane Brown Got The ‘Last Laugh After Vulgar Fan Insult’
One of these fans commented, “Thanks for posting” the close-up video. Then they admitted, “We were standing just a few feet away,” but they still couldn’t figure out exactly what happened. But they did reveal that “Kane was furious after he ended that song!”
Kane was right to be angry at what happened, but it’s healthier to let it go at some point. Thankfully, Country Music Alley reported on June 18th that Kane got the “last laugh after vulgar fan insult.”
As Country Music Alley confirmed, Kane handled the incident so smoothly that many fans weren’t even aware of any drama.
Kane and his crew also get their share of that guy’s ticket, and if that sounds like a small piece of the pie, at least Kane was able to get the guy kicked out of his show.
Did Kane Have Another Concert Incident?
TMZ also reported what happened during Kane’s June 9th concert. While they didn’t have any additional insider knowledge, there are two other shocking articles on TMZ‘s website about Kane and crazy stuff that’s happened to him on tour.
In April 2023, TMZ reported that Kane was performing a concert in Wichita, Kansas. Something crazy happened that night, and Kane’s reaction was unbelievable.
According to TMZ, Kane was in the middle of performing another song, “One Thing Right,” when something happened that he obviously wasn’t expecting.
Another fan video captured the whole cringeworthy incident, and shockingly, the person who did this to Kane didn’t get kicked out like that rude fan in Atlanta.
Fan Threw Cowboy Boot At Kane Brown
As he was singing, someone in the crowd threw a cowboy boot at Kane, and the boot struck Kane in a private area below the waist!
The video seems to show Kane getting winded after the object struck him, and TMZ wrote that he was forced to go “to the floor to finish the song.”
Shockingly, Kane didn’t take offense to being hit by what TMZ called a “rogue cowboy boot,” and apparently, no one was ejected from the concert for tossing the boot at him on stage.
TMZ noted that the fan who tossed the boot must have wanted Kane to sign it. They added that Kane “was a good sport,” who “later signed the offending boot” and handed it back to “someone in the crowd.”
Kane Brown ‘Twisted His Ankle Pretty Badly’
Kane suffered another injury on stage a few years back, but TMZ reported that Kane was a total pro and finished the show anyway.
Kane was performing at the FedEx Forum in Memphis on a Saturday night. TMZ wrote, “At some point, he hopped down to the lower front stage area,” and disaster struck.
TMZ didn’t confirm how the accident happened, but they wrote that Kane “twisted his ankle pretty badly.” They also published links to fan videos, and TMZ added that you could see Kane was “in serious pain.”
Kane Brown ‘Toughed It Out’
According to TMZ, it took “a solid 30 seconds or so” before Kane’s band even figured out what was wrong. Videos showed that Kane’s security team had to help and escort him around, but shockingly, TMZ confirmed that Kane “didn’t pull the plug on the concert.”
Some fans questioned why Kane didn’t end the show early, calling the rest of his performance “a little choppy at times.” Other eyewitnesses were more compassionate, noting that Kane looked to be in so much pain after he’d twisted his ankle that he was “tearing up.”
TMZ wrote that Kane “toughed it out” until the end of the show, and later, he explained more in an Instagram video of his twisted ankle, which was “swollen like a balloon.”
Following her trip from Tennessee to North Carolina to console Portwood, 34, a source told Us Weekly that the two are returning home.
Maci Bookout Was By Her Friend’s, Amber Portwood, Side
“Maci and Amber left North Carolina last night,” an insider told the magazine on June 14. “Maci was kind enough to drive her home to Indiana.”
The two women found themselves in North Carolina on June 11 when Portwood’s fiancé Gary Wayt was reported missing. Three days later, the Bryson City Police Department declared on Facebook that he had been found and that the matter was dealt with. Not much else was said from either Portwood or Wayt.
When Wayt vanished, a source claimed that he and Portwood were in town to attend a family wedding close to the small town of Bryson City. “They were spending several days in the Smoky Mountains,” the insider told Us Weekly. Allegedly on June 9, the two got into an “emotional conversation” that resulted in Wayt leaving the vehicle without Portwood and disappearing. He left his cell phone behind in the vehicle.
Gary Wayt: Lost and Found
“This is a huge deal, his parents, everybody is very worried. I am worried,” Portwood said in a very troubling YouTube stream shortly after her fiance disappeared. “There was not a big blowout fight or anything like that, okay? He is a missing person right now.”
Portwood said that authorities were aware of every detail surrounding Wayt’s disappearance, stating that he left the North Carolina home they were renting without his phone and was later seen by himself at Walgreens several days later.
A very good development came when Bryson City Police verified several days later that Wayt had been at a Verizon store in Oklahoma. Authorities also had reason to think “he was in New Mexico at one point. Gary will stay as a missing person until he contacts Bryson City Police and or contacts another law enforcement officer.”
Another source claims that Wayt’s license plate was spotted in New Mexico. Unfortunately, Wayt’s friend and family as well as Portwood have not heard from him yet.
Amber Portwood’s Desperate Plea For Help
“Please if anybody sees him or hears anything please I am begging all of you guys,” Portwood begged in another YouTube stream. “Please don’t think the worst right now. I am trying to be as positive as possible.”
A source noted that the pair were hoping to avoid future issues by building a strong foundation ahead of their wedding. “They’ve been in couple’s therapy and talk about everything,” the insider revealed. “They’re being very proactive in their relationship and are doing the work to prevent problems before they start.”
It seems like Wayt isn’t exactly missing, but may be avoiding his family and fiance for undisclosed reasons. “Amber has not spoken to him and she isn’t reaching out to him,” an insider told The Sun recently. “She hasn’t really reached out to anyone since he was found. She is pretty hurt by the whole situation and still in disbelief.”
The birth of a child is supposed to be a happy time. But sadly, for Snoop Dogg’s eldest son, Corde, it turned into tragedy.
Corde Broadus’s partner Soraya gave birth to their second child, Kai, in September 2019. Just a couple of days later, Kai passed away. It was devastating for the parents, but they have since both come out to share their spiritual, uplifting thoughts.
People Magazine reported that Corde’s son, Kai, passed away in his arms 10 days after his birth. Corde took to Instagram to note that he felt Kai’s energy at the time of his passing and that it’s something he will hold onto. In the short 10 days of his life, Kai “did all he needed to do.”
Corde continued in the social media post saying that Kai had “graduated” and is “continuing to do work.” Before this, Snoop Dogg’s son shared the news of Kai’s passing with videos of Soraya rocking Kai in the NICU. In the video, others could be heard in the background talking to Kai and his big sister Elleven, while holding back their tears.
While Snoop Dogg didn’t speak out about the passing of his grandson immediately, his wife Shante did. She shared her gratitude to fans for their heartwarming messages.
Corde and His Family Are Healing from the Loss
The family did not release the cause of his passing. They wanted to focus on the energy that Kai offered to them all rather than on the bad. Many fans have respected their wishes to keep this part private.
Corde shared that he understood why he and Soraya were chosen to be the parents of “an angel like Kai.” They are both spiritual people, and they were able to understand the reason Kai came to them. He said that they would use the energy Kai offered to raise their daughter together so that she could be the best person possible for everyone.
When announcing that Kai had passed away in his arms, Corde also shared photos of Elleven at her first birthday party. Soraya was visibly pregnant, and Elleven was running around in a blue dress to celebrate the moment.
Corde noted that Soraya was “at peace” and that she was moving forward in her life. He also thanked fans for their messages of condolences and love due to the tragedy.
According to Your Tango, Snoop Dogg did eventually talk about his grandson’s passing. During Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk, he shared that he put on a face to support everyone else. However, there were times that he was angry and sad, but he had to push it down for the sake of everyone else.
This was in 2020. He also shared that the family could heal from this loss at that point.
Corde Broadus and Soraya Love did welcome another son in 2021, according to BCK. Corde took time to mourn those who had passed on the same day as his son’s birth, saying, “Circle of life. Such a life.”
Photo Credits: Nelly/Instagram and Ashanti/Instagram
Fans have been speculating about it for years, but we can finally put the doubts about Nelly and Ashanti to rest. The couple went public about getting back together last year and have gone on to share plenty of details about just how well everything’s been going in their relationship the second time around.
Ever since then, fans have had just one question. When is Nelly going to ask Ashanti to marry him? Celebrity fan pages have been filled with people wondering what’s been taking so long.
In November of last year, a short while after Ashanti surprised Nelly for his birthday, one fan commented that it was “obvious” how much she loved the rapper. They went on to remark on just how long they had been in each others’ lives, having first gotten together over 20 years ago.
The fan discussed how Ashanti has been open about how much she wants marriage in her life. In fact, the conversation soon became pretty critical of Nelly for failing to give Ashanti what she obviously wanted.
The fan wrote that the fact that he couldn’t bring himself to propose showed a lack of commitment. Others agreed, writing that Nelly just wasn’t marriage material and was fully aware of the fact.
Ashanti and Nelly May be in a Honeymoon Phase
It was suggested that the reason the couple has shown themselves to be so happy together was down to nostalgia. One fan suggested that they were in a kind of honeymoon stage because they were back together after years apart, which made it feel deeper than their first time around. The fan, and many others, expected those feelings to wear off once Nelly realized that Ashanti wanted to take things to the next level.
Other people, however, seemed to think that it was the other way around, and Ashanti was really the one who was keeping the couple from being husband and wife. One person wrote, “Apparently Nelly has been trying for a while to get back together, and even had discussions about marriage.”
They continued to say that every time the subject came up, Ashanti would change the topic or ghost Nelly. Obviously, it was pretty much impossible to really know what was going on between the couple from the outside.
But one thing we did have to help form an opinion is the relationship history between Ashanti and Nelly. The different paths they took in their romantic lives might offer insight into why their current situation was so confusing.
Nelly Has Never Been Married
First, let’s take a look at Nelly. Before reuniting with Ashanti, Nelly had never made it to the aisle. Although he has never married, he was in another serious relationship with Shantel Jackson.
Shantel dated Nelly for around seven years before they broke up in 2021. During their time together, Shantel quickly started putting out signals that she was ready to take that step with him.
The signs weren’t always that subtle. In 2016, Shantel shared an Instagram post featuring an elephant family of three, a father and mother with a baby elephant. Another sign came when Shantel tagged Nelly and herself as Mr. and Mrs. Adventure while they were on vacation in Bali.
Although they parted ways without ever tying the knot, there was no doubt that they both took their relationship seriously. Nelly clearly wanted Shantel to be close to his family. She was even featured on Nelly’s short-lived reality show Nellyville.
This could mean two things about Nelly’s attitude to relationships. The fact that he never married may have proved fans right that he has never been husband material. On the other hand, his commitment to the relationship apart from the marriage aspect shows that he is capable of taking Ashanti seriously.
Ashanti Has Kept Her Dating Life Private
For her part, Ashanti has always been pretty quiet about her dating life outside of Nelly. So much of what we know about Ashanti’s partners has been speculation and gossip.
It was also claimed that she had an affair with rapper Andre Parker between 2003 and 2005. Madame Noire reported in 2013 that the two shared a relationship despite both being involved with other people. At the time, Ashanti was dating Nelly and Andre was with Keyshia Cole, who Ashanti co-wrote the song Woman to Woman with.
The speculation about Ashanti continued for years after she ended things with Nelly. During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, she had to deny rumors that she was dating wide receiver DeSean Jackson. However, she did admit that she had recently attended a match with him.
Another footballer who was linked to Ashanti around the same time was Darnell Dockett. After she tweeted to wish him a happy birthday in 2015, many took this as confirmation of their relationship. However, if they ever really were a thing, it didn’t last past 2016.
Basically, other than Nelly, there’s no solid proof that Ashanti has had a lot of serious relationships. This might be evidence that long-term relationships aren’t for her, but the singer often talks about how important finding love is for her.
It’s more likely that her dating history proves just how important Nelly is to her. No one else has ever managed to take his place in her heart.
This has also been a concern to fans, some have worried that Nelly might exploit Ashanti’s loyalty to him. One fan wrote, “Nelly won’t marry Ashanti and have kids with her because she is his doormat for two long decades.”
Ashanti and Nelly Are Expecting Their First Child Together
Another worry among fans was that Nelly only got back together with Ashanti in 2023 to improve his public perception. In the years leading up to their reunion, situations in Nelly’s personal life, as well as some serious brushes with the law, caused his reputation to start to fade. Some fans thought that with Ashanti so loyal to Nelly, it would be easy for the rapper to change the conversation around himself by getting back together with her.
Despite the doubt and outright cynicism surrounding their relationship, recent information has shut down all rumors about Nelly and Ashanti. Very recently, it has emerged that the pair have been married for quite some time and simply didn’t tell us.
Media outlets got hold of public documents that proved the couple had been married since last December. Not only that, but we’ve recently learned that Ashanti is actually pregnant with the couple’s first child.
Recently, Ashanti posted some new photos on Instagram to celebrate her pregnancy. The photos showed her lying on a beach in a gold bikini. In the caption of the post, she wrote that her impending motherhood was “the greatest feeling ever.”
Nelly and Ashanti had previously announced both their pregnancy and that they were engaged in April of this year. But fans had no idea that they had already taken the final step and tied the knot in private.
It just goes to show how far off our judgments can be from the truth. The love these two share for each other is in fact as real as it gets.
Photo Credits: Forest Whitaker/Instagram and True Whitaker/Instagram
Forest Whitaker was married to Keisha Nash Whitaker, the late mother of two of his children, for more than 20 years. So when news broke last December that she had unexpectedly passed away, everyone was completely stunned.
But when the cause of her untimely passing was revealed, shocking details about her life were also exposed. The truth about what Keisha secretly went through in her final years is seriously heartbreaking, so let’s get into it.
On December 6, 2023, Keisha and Forest’s 25-year-old daughter, True Whitaker, announced on her Instagram Story that her mother had passed away. According to USA TODAY, she included a few pictures of her mom and also shared an emotional message.
True started out by writing, “Goodbye mommy. I love you forever and beyond.” She also thanked her mother for teaching her everything she knows. She added that she would continue to feel her mom in her heart and would see her in her dreams.
True’s post took almost everyone by surprise, mainly because Keisha was only 51 years old. But when media outlets started releasing reports about the unfortunate update, there was a layer of mystery surrounding the news.
At the time, the cause of Keisha’s passing still hadn’t been publicly revealed. Most of her family had stayed pretty silent, aside from when True broke the sad news on her Instagram Story. But what happened a couple of days later was absolutely bizarre.
True Shut Down the Rumors About Her Mother
True had posted a tribute to her late mother on her Instagram feed. She made a heart-wrenching confession in the caption. She admitted that it was going to be difficult for her to make her way through life without her mom.
But according to People Magazine, True also took to her Instagram Story that same day to address a specific rumor related to the cause of her mother’s passing. She wrote that total strangers had been claiming to know what had happened, and were even releasing statements about it.
True shut down the allegations that her mom had been diagnosed with a mental health condition that typically leads to dangerous eating habits. People with the condition can potentially experience serious medical issues, or even pass away as a result.
True explained that the rumors going around claiming that her mother had passed away due to that condition weren’t relevant at all. However, she mentioned that even though her mom did not have the condition, her “heart goes out to those who do.”
True added that she was grateful for the people who had been supportive of her and her family. But she asked everyone “to not speculate and fabricate facts about” her mother’s life, or how it ended.
She ended her message by saying that she and her family would be taking some space to heal. But what happened about a month later was honestly unreal.
Keisha Was Diagnosed with Substance Related Liver Disease
In January, TMZ reported that the official certificate of Keisha’s passing had just been issued. The outlet had obtained a copy, which was included in the article. What it revealed was seriously unexpected.
Keisha was at a Los Angeles hospital at the time of her passing, which was caused by substance-related liver disease. The certificate also stated that she had been battling the disease for years before it ended her life. But that wasn’t all.
The document revealed that substance-related liver disease was the immediate, main cause of Keisha’s passing. However, under the section for significant conditions that also contributed to her passing, it stated acute renal, or kidney, failure.
The TMZ article explained that acute renal failure is a symptom of the exact condition people had been speculating about. But True had strongly denied that her mom suffered from the condition. Whether she was being honest or trying to protect her late mother, she clearly didn’t want to get into it.
Acute renal failure isn’t only a symptom of that one condition, though. According to Mayo Clinic’s website, there’s a huge range of potential causes of renal failure.
Apparently, liver disease and heavy substance use can cause decreased functioning or damage to the kidneys.Mount Sinai’s online Health Library states that substance-related liver disease occurs following years of excessive consumption of adult beverages. Based on the two official causes of Keisha’s passing, she had likely been struggling, both mentally and physically, for years.
Keisha Had Been In and Out of the Hospital
Before a copy of the certificate was publicly released, True was seemingly convinced that her mom hadn’t suffered from the mental health condition that causes destructive eating habits and can also result in very concerning medical problems. But a lot of people believe that she dealt with it for years and tried to keep it private.
What an insider revealed just days after Keisha passed away was absolutely shocking. According to what the source told the Daily Mail, Keisha had allegedly been quietly battling the mental health condition for years. They also claimed that before she passed away, she had been “in and out of the hospital” for a few months due to “intestinal problems.”
The insider also explained that Forest was reportedly completely aware of Keisha’s alleged mental and physical health issues. They added that he had supposedly been there for her during some of her most troubling times, although he ultimately filed for divorce in 2018. The source also mentioned that even after their split was finalized in 2021, Forest still had a lot of respect for Keisha, especially because she had always been an amazing mother.
In the year before she passed away, her lifestyle changed in a truly unbelievable way. Allegedly, Keisha stopped going out in public due to her health issues. The insider claimed that she “spent a lot of time in the hospital” and at home.
Eventually, she reportedly felt too weak to safely drive. She hired a driver to take her wherever she needed to go.
The source also revealed that Forest had been struggling a lot emotionally and felt overwhelmed by grief after Keisha passed away. Maybe that’s why he didn’t release any kind of statement about her tragic passing, which many people thought was strange.
Forest Didn’t Initially Speak About Keisha’s Passing
After the cause of Keisha’s passing was revealed by TMZ, the article was shared in a thread on Lipstick Alley. Several of the site’s users brought up that it had been about a month since she passed away, and Forest still hadn’t said anything.
Some people found it odd that Forest hadn’t spoken out about Keisha’s passing, considering they had been married for over 20 years and shared two children together. But other people were more understanding about why he seemingly didn’t want to address the devastating situation. Many thought that Forest’s silence was simply because he wanted privacy.
Some social media users made it clear that they hoped he would never release any kind of heartfelt statement about Keisha’s passing, and the reason why was seriously bizarre. Those people believed that when Forest filed for divorce from Keisha, her mental and physical health took a turn for the worse. They felt like he shouldn’t have left her at such a vulnerable time in her life.
However, nobody knows exactly what went on during their marriage, aside from Forest. Several people on the Lipstick Alley thread also defended his decision to file for divorce.
They explained that it was probably so tough for Forest and the rest of the family to not be able to help Keisha like they might have wanted to. If her liver disease and kidney failure truly were the results of a potential mental health condition, plus years of heavy substance use, Forest was most likely in a difficult position, whether he stayed or not.
Keisha Made a Lasting Impact
According to People Magazine, on January 13, Forest gave a moving speech at a celebration of life event for Keisha. He spoke about some of his favorite memories with her and claimed that she had been in the process of writing a very different type of book.
Forest said that Keisha’s book was about celebrating everyday glamor. She allegedly wanted to show people how to make every moment special and glamorous so they could cherish more moments from their everyday lives.
Then, Forest thanked all of the guests at the service “for being part of a moment” for Keisha. He wrapped up his speech by saying that she was incredible and that they “all love her.” She had clearly made a lasting impact on Forest, and not just because they shared two daughters together.
Keisha’s untimely passing came as a shock to so many people. But sadly, so did the unexpected details of what her life was really like leading up to its tragic ending.
Photo Credits: Nelly/Instagram and Lil Shxwn/Instagram
Tragedy hits people of all races, genders, and financial statuses. Rapper and songwriter Nelly has certainly faced his own pain and loss.
While he is currently expecting his first child with now-wife Ashanti, Nelly has four other children. Two of them are adopted. He takes fatherhood extremely seriously.
Nelly has two children with ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine. The two welcomed daughter Chanelle in 1994 and then their son Cornell in 1999.
The two have certainly grown up following much of their father’s footsteps. Chanelle has a radio show and is working on her music career, starting around the same time that Nelly started his career back in the day.
Cornell is a sports enthusiast, and has dreams of becoming a producer, Hello! Magazine shared based on a social media post from his sister Chanelle.
Nelly also adopted his sister’s two children, Shawn and Sydney Thomas. His sister, Jackie Donahue, tragically passed away in 2005 due to leukemia.
This was shared with the world via Nellyville, the BET reality TV show in 2014. The series offered an insight into Nelly’s blended family, which he shared with Shantel Jackson at the time.
Shawn has dabbled in music like his uncle but has now turned to raising his own family. He has a daughter, Mahalia, who his girlfriend, Krista, had in 2020. Little is known about what Sydney is doing now, but Nelly only has good words about his relationship with her.
Nelly Raised All Four as a Single Father
After his relationship with Jackson broke down, Nelly ended up raising all four children as a single father. He has admitted that he couldn’t be there for everything, but he has made an effort to be there for all the key moments.
Adopting his niece and nephew was a “no-brainer,” he told Tamara Hall. He shared that they all needed each other at this point, and he had to step up.
He hasn’t fully done it alone, even when single. Family members have helped, but he shared that financially it has been on him. He also chuckled that the discipline has fallen on him as well.
Nelly shared how the two children saved him and helped him while he was helping them. He was grieving too, and he was able to share memories and joy about his sister with the two children to help everyone through the process.
However, his grief would never take away from the two children’s grief. He couldn’t imagine what they were going through.
Nothing will change for the children as Nelly and Ashanti welcome their first child together. The two married in December 2023, according to Us Weekly. This is despite Ashanti sharing that the two were only engaged in April 2024, which is when she publicly confirmed her pregnancy. Before that, the pregnancy was just a rumor from an insider.
On June 11th, Taste of Country uploaded a video with a surprising headline about Riley Strain’s tragic case. The headline claimed to be a “Riley Strain Autopsy UPDATE,” and Taste of Country alleged, “We’ve Been Tricked!”
Taste of Country host and lead writer Billy Dukes alleged that people following Riley’s case would “be shocked when the full autopsy” report was released. The real truth is that Riley’s “official autopsy report” was released on June 18th. Still, Billy had other things to discuss in this video, specifically, a “private investigator” “hired by [Riley’s] family.”
Billy said the Strain family’s private investigator had spoken out on Riley’s case and called prior reports “lies.” Allegedly, the private investigator questioned a toxicology report that stated Riley had no substances in his system when his body was discovered.
Another twisted detail is the investigator’s suspicions that foul play was involved in Riley’s case, even though Nashville authorities claimed there was “no reason to suspect foul play” after Riley disappeared on March 8th. Billy even described Riley’s sad situation as taking “a wild and ugly turn.” He cautioned viewers to “believe nothing” until the real truth was uncovered.
Billy told viewers he would sort through Riley’s case “chronologically” and “introduce all the key players.” At least Billy remembered Riley’s grieving family at this unbelievably hard time.
Billy asked viewers to “please continue to keep Riley’s parents and family in mind this spring and summer.” He reminded us that their “pain is not going to go away,” even when they finally learn the truth about their beloved Riley.
Many People Suspected a Criminal Investigation
Billy started with a report by Nashville’s News Channel 5 published on June 6th. Reporter Nick Beres wrote that 22-year-old Riley was the victim of an “accidental drowning” and that there was “no sign he was the victim of a crime.” But, Billy pointed out a huge problem with the News Channel 5 report, and you won’t believe this.
Billy claimed that News Channel 5 only confirmed their findings with “another News Channel 5 reporter.” In this case, it was a “legal analyst” for the station named Nick Leonardo.
Nick Leonardo allegedly told Nick Beres, “A lot of times when an autopsy takes a little while, it makes people suspect there is a criminal investigation” due to foul play. Nick Beres wrote that “all indications” pointed to Riley’s passing being “accidental” because Nick Leonardo told him that it was a “horrible tragedy… with no criminal wrongdoing.”
Then Billy brought up Steve Fischer, who Riley’s family hired to investigate his case. Wide Open Country reported on what happened next, and this story just gets more twisted.
On June 12th, Wide Open Country wrote that Steve was “casting doubt” on medical reports and media write-ups about Riley. Steve said Riley’s family was still “waiting for official results to be shared.”
Steve accused News Channel 5 of jumping the gun and threw major shade at another private investigator, Jennifer Coffindaffer. Jennifer had commented on social media platforms like X that Riley’s case involved “no foul play.” Steve attacked her online and said that Jennifer got it “completely wrong.”
Steve Publicly Questioned Jennifer’s Qualifications
He really went after Jennifer in the media. Wide Open Country reported that Steve doubted Jennifer’s qualifications as an investigator. Shockingly, he also posted an “email exchange” with a detective from the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Steve’s emails with the detective allegedly showed that the medical examiner in Nashville had yet to share their final report. He went after Jennifer for sharing her “opinion” before any official findings were released.
He even went on X and posted a diss comment calling Jennifer a “tabloid commentator.” Steve later threw shade at Jennifer for “literally [being] the joke amongst law enforcement” and that, “as usual, her findings are wrong.”
Wide Open Country reported that Steve later deleted some of these insulting comments. He also claimed on X that he would no longer comment on Riley’s case “out of respect for the family” until the toxicology report was “officially released.”
Out of respect to the family Im not going to comment on the tox report any further until it's officially released. I will only comment if I get a statement from Dr. Li at the Medical Examiners Office. I contacted him about @CoffindafferFBI lies and asked him to provide a…
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) June 11, 2024
However, Steve also wrote that he would “comment” if he got “a statement from Dr. Li at the Medical Examiners’ Office.” Steve also claimed he had “contacted” Dr. Li about Jennifer’s “lies,” and asked Dr. Li to “provide a statement” at that time. Steve said he would post any statement from the medical examiner.
He finished with another accusation directed at Jennifer. Steve wrote, “Trust me, Jennifer is lying.” Then he claimed that was all he had to say about it.
Riley’s BAC Was Triple the Legal Limit
Taste of Country dropped the bombshell on June 18th that the medical examiner “finally revealed” the official word on Riley. They wrote that Riley’s autopsy and toxicology report was made public on that Tuesday morning. Shockingly, it “contained specifics and surprises.”
Taste of Country revealed that the report “also addressed questions” about whether Riley had substances in his system. Sadly, Riley’s family “has also ordered a second autopsy, which has not been made public if completed.”
News Channel 5 was finally able to prove their initial belief that Riley passed away from “accidental” causes. However, the toxicology report shockingly revealed that Riley’s “blood alcohol level was nearly triple the legal limit.”
Riley had been on a fraternity trip to Nashville with his friends from the University of Missouri. News Channel 5 reported that Riley’s school had “recognized him during the graduation proceedings” this year.
Taste of Country wrote that media outlets like Fox 17 in Nashville reported that Riley had passed because of “drowning and ethanol intoxication.” The layperson’s term for ethanol intoxication is “alcohol poisoning.”
According to a description on the Mayo Clinic website, alcohol poisoning can occur when someone binge drinks. In the case of a young man like Riley, it could have happened if he “rapidly consumed five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours.”
Taste of Country said that Riley’s blood alcohol level of .228 made him “nearly three times the legal limit to drive.” However, there was something else in Riley’s system, and it’s shocking.
Delta-9 THC Was Also Found in Riley’s System
Riley’s toxicology report said he had “small amounts of a legal form of THC” in his system. According to Taste of Country, this legal substance is called “Delta 9,” and it’s “available in Tennessee.”
Steve had been suspicious about this and is now sharing his “detailed findings” online. Steve posted a “portion” of the actual toxicology report that apparently lists “Delta-9 THC,” a substance that is commonly found in “edibles,” but there was another shocking detail.
Riley Strain Autopsy and Toxicology Results:
The Medical Examiner in Davidson County, TN, has ruled Riley Strain’s death as an accidental drowning. The toxicology report revealed the presence of alcohol and drugs in Riley's system; however, no Rohypnol or other central nervous… pic.twitter.com/90zcdfTlFU
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) June 18, 2024
The summary of the toxicology report seems to indicate a form of Delta-9 THC in Riley’s system that is “considered more intense” than other forms. The fact that there were other substances in Riley’s system was all the proof that Steve needed right now.
Taste of Country reminded readers about the “heated debate” between Steve and Jennifer and how Steve had accused her of “lies” when Jennifer claimed online there were no substances in Riley’s system.
Riley’s Family Is Continuing the Investigation
However, Jennifer wasn’t lying about the issue of foul play. Taste of Country wrote that the medical examiner’s official findings were “consistent with what Metro Nashville Police” had said all along. There were “no signs of foul play,” and Riley allegedly “fell into the Cumberland River on his own.”
According to the Metro Nashville medical examiner, their official findings dispel any conspiracy theory that Riley had been given harsher or illegal substances without his knowledge.
This theory began after Riley’s mom, Michelle Whiteid, shared text conversations she had with Riley before he disappeared. Allegedly, Riley texted Michelle that he’d been served a drink that “tasted like barbecue.” Even Steve had to admit the real truth on social media.
Steve’s summary on X confirmed that alcohol and legal substances had been “detected” in Riley’s system. Still, no harsher or illegal substances were identified by Nashville’s medical examiner that could have made Riley pass out or come from “intentional foul play.”
Taste of Country reported that Riley’s family has “hired personal injury lawyers, Morgan & Morgan.” They’re seeking to “continue the investigation,” including that second autopsy. As Taste of Country explained, Riley’s family isn’t done yet.
They wrote that it’s “likely” that Riley’s family wants to “focus on when and where” Riley was “served drinks.” Steve confirmed online that his “interviews are ongoing” and wants to deliver a report to Riley’s family “within two weeks.”
