Nelly Defends Ashanti

Nelly has clapped back at fans wanting to run their mouth on his growing family with Ashanti. 

The rapper had a run-in with a fan online who decided to say their piece on Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship as they expected their first child together.

Fan’s Bold Statement

The fan stated that their family couldn’t be called the Haynes family. 

They noted that the couple weren’t married.

So instead, they should include both Nelly and Ashanti’s last names and be known as the Haynes-Douglas family. 

The fan went on to say that they knew that others would be mad at their take. 

But they went on to say that fans should actually be mad at Nelly for not marrying Ashanti after all this time and giving her his last name. 

Nelly Responds To Fan’s Absurd Comment 

While the commenter seemed prepared for other fans to respond, they couldn’t have expected Nelly himself to jump on to reply. 

In the comment section, the rapper himself chimed in to write: “umm it’s definitely the Haynes family, lol.”

Nelly wasted no time in setting the record straight then. 

The original post featured a photo of the happy couple smiling and Ashanti’s baby bump on full display. 

Fans were delighted to see Nelly arrive to put the commenter in their place. 

However, the naysayer must feel even more foolish now after the recent incredible news that Nelly was really speaking the truth when he said that it’s definitely the Haynes family. 

When Did Nelly And Ashanti Get Married?

In the last few days, it’s been revealed that Ashanti and Nelly have actually been married for a while. 

Reports have confirmed that they secretly tied the knot around 6 months ago and kept the news from fans. 

Public records show that they wed on December 27, 2023.

Since then, they have been fooling everyone with a complicated ruse to keep us all guessing. 

How Nelly Proposed To Ashanti 

In April, they announced that they were getting engaged.

Ashanti told Entertainment Tonight about the incredibly casual way Nelly allegedly popped the question. 

According to Ashanti, it was a beautiful intimate moment far from prying eyes. 

They were not at all dressy – in fact, they were both lying in bed in their pajamas watching TV when Nelly asked her to marry him. 

The singer then shared her reaction, saying, “I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever. I FaceTimed everyone I know.”

She went on to say that she was overjoyed, surprised, and happy all at once.

Although it’s now been reported that they’re already married, it seems they still plan to have a big formal ceremony at some point in the future. 

Ashanti confirmed that their baby will be born before their wedding. 

Ashanti Didn’t Expect Fairy Tale Ending With Nelly 

After such a long and up-and-down relationship across a couple of decades, for Nelly and Ashanti to finally be married with a kid on the way is every fan’s wish come true.

Even Ashanti herself admitted that she never thought this would be how their story went.

She told ET that she didn’t think in a million years that they would get to this point. 

After they broke up over ten years ago, the singer thought that they might never even have a conversation again.

How and When Nelly And Ashanti Reunited 

She was ready to shut Nelly out of her life, which she in fact did for a long time, before they were famously reunited at a Verzuz battle in 2021.

When Fat Joe and Ja Rule faced off on the Comedy Central show, both Nelly and Ashanti were in the studio. 

In a moment that has since gone viral, Nelly crossed the stage to give Ashanti a hug in their first reunion since splitting up. 

Since then, Nelly and Ashanti’s renewed relationship has evolved really fast. 

Nelly And Ashanti Are Inseparable

The following year, Ashanti let us know that they were in a much better place during an interview.

Soon, they were spotted out and about together on several occasions.

And it wasn’t long before they went public, saying that they had gotten back together.

Nelly admitted on Philo TV’s Boss Moves that they were both actually surprised by the fact that they had become part of each other’s lives again.

Despite the fact that it wasn’t planned, they agreed that going their separate ways helped them to understand each other more.

And although they have both grown older and wiser, it looks like they are having more fun than ever.

Ashanti’s Surprise Birthday Party For Nelly 

A few months before their secret marriage, Ashanti celebrated Nelly’s birthday in style. 

The couple hosted a costume party on October 31, two days before the rapper’s actual birthday.

The Halloween birthday party was reportedly army-themed, with both Nelly and Ashanti decked out in military-style outfits for the day.

Ashanti Gifted Nelly With Customized Convertible Chevrolet Impala

As the festivities got into full swing, Ashanti presented Nelly with a car.

To be specific, she bought him what appeared to be a customized convertible Chevrolet Impala.

The car first rolled off the production line all the way back in 1964.

And from what we could tell, Nelly was amazed by the gift.

A video was soon shared on Instagram of Nelly grinning from ear to ear as he sat behind the wheel for the first time.

Fittingly, his hit song Ride Wit Me played in the background.

The reason the track was so perfect was also the reason why Ashanti’s gift was extra thoughtful.

As reported by Complex Magazine, this was the car that Nelly was actually referring to in that very song.

The track referred to Nelly’s love of 64 Impalas.

More specifically, he rapped about the iconic lowrider version of the vehicle.

Nelly And Ashanti’s Strong Bond 

Which just goes to show how strong Ashanti and Nelly’s bond has become over the many years of their rollercoaster relationship.

The couple have been very public about getting back together for almost a year now.

Both artists have shared videos with their online followings of their PDA.

And they have appeared to be delighted at being in each other’s company once again.

Why Nelly And Ashanti Kept Marriage A Secret

But although we all thought the happy couple were sharing everything about their lives with us, it turns out that they were hiding important details all along. 

It’s not known why they decided to get married in secret, or how they managed to keep quiet about it for so long. 

But it helps to explain Nelly’s confident reaction to the critical fan who didn’t realize that they really were the Haynes family now. 

When Ashanti’s Pregnancy Rumors Began 

However, Nelly and Ashanti haven’t been great at keeping other important milestones a secret. 

In a moment that has since gone viral, Nelly and Ashanti were performing on stage in December of last year when Nelly dropped a major hint about Ashanti’s pregnancy. 

He was seen rubbing her belly during their show in a clear sign that fans couldn’t help but notice. 

But what was crazy about it was that at the time, the couple weren’t even sure they were pregnant. 

Ashanti told ET that she hadn’t even taken a test before Nelly rubbed her belly in front of the world. 

How Nelly Responded When Ashanti Confirmed She Was Pregnant 

She went on to reveal that when she did find out, she FaceTimed Nelly to share the news of her pregnancy with him. 

And his reaction caught her off guard.

She said that while she was so excited she couldn’t wait to get it out, she said, “He was just like, ‘I knew.’”

However, she added that they were both so happy to find out. 

And from what fans can tell, the couple have been nothing but happy ever since getting back together.