Nelly and Ashanti “hated” each other before getting back together. Their admission has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, revealing the depth of animosity that existed between the former couple.
The couple had an on-off relationship for over a decade from 2003 and they went on to reconcile in 2023, having son Kareem, aka KK, 10 months, and secretly getting married, but they admitted they never expected to reunite. Their romance became one of the most talked-about relationships in early 2000s hip-hop and R&B culture.
“We were together off and on for 11 years, before the final…” in a trailer for their new reality show Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together, Ashanti, 44, said. The upcoming series promises to give fans unprecedented insight into their private lives and relationship dynamics.
“I hated her,” Nelly quipped, showing remarkable honesty about their past conflicts. His candid admission reveals how far they’ve come from their darkest moments.
“I hated him. I didn’t think that we would get back together,” his wife laughed, demonstrating the healing that has taken place between them. The mutual hatred they experienced makes their current happiness even more remarkable.
“She got me y’all,” Hot in Herre hitmaker Nelly then smiled as he said, acknowledging his wife’s hold over him. His playful admission shows how their dynamic has completely transformed.
“He wanted to get got,” but Ashanti suggested she hadn’t had to work hard to pursue the 50-year-old singer. Her confidence in their renewed connection reflects the maturity they’ve both gained over the years.
“It was, ‘I can’t believe these feelings came back. That’s what it was for me. When we first started talking and dating again it was like, ‘Wait a minute, these feelings were gone. How did they creep back?'” the 44-year-old pop star previously admitted she was initially shocked that her feelings for Nelly had returned because she thought they had “gone” away after the end of their relationship the first time round, she told E! News. The unexpected return of their romantic feelings surprised both artists who had moved on with their separate lives.
Ashanti also admitted she and Nelly – who has Chanelle, 30, and Cornell, 25, with Channetta Valentine and then adopted his sister’s children after she passed away – are keen to have more children. The blended family structure adds another layer to their complex relationship story.
“I am feeling amazing, incredibly pleased, humbled. My life has completely changed for the better. I feel full, you know? My cup is full. We’re going to add some more. Definitely a girl to balance it out. I’m outnumbered in the house right now. So, a girl would be great!” she said. Ashanti’s enthusiasm for expanding their family shows how committed they are to their future together.
“I was like, ‘Yo, you know what? Let’s just knock this [wedding] out because we’re going to be doing so much and everything’s moving so fast.’ I didn’t want her to be a baby mama, you know what I mean? Because we already knew where we were in life. If we’re back like this, this must be what it’s supposed to be,” meanwhile, Nelly revealed he married the Foolish hitmaker in December 2023 because she was pregnant, speaking on The Bootleg Kev podcast. His decision to marry her quickly demonstrates his commitment to doing right by their relationship.
Ashanti and Nelly did not confirm that they had married until June 2024, and just over a month later, she gave birth to their son. The secrecy surrounding their wedding added to the mystique of their reunion story.
Their journey from hatred to love again represents one of the most dramatic celebrity relationship comebacks in recent memory. The couple’s willingness to be vulnerable about their past struggles has resonated with fans who followed their original romance. Their story serves as proof that sometimes love really does conquer all, even the deepest resentments.
The reality show promises to document their current happiness while exploring the painful history that nearly destroyed their relationship forever. Both artists have evolved significantly since their early days, bringing wisdom and maturity to their renewed partnership that wasn’t present in their younger years.
