Nelly and Ashanti: Inside the Iconic Couple's Relationship and Split

Nelly and Ashanti were one of music's most famous couples in the early 2000s, so the world was shocked when they discovered their split in 2014 after dating for several years.

In August 2022, Ashanti and Nelly performed their 2008 "Body on Me" song together, where they headlined the "My 2000s Playlist" concert in Oakland with Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Ma$e, Fabolous, Amerie, and others.

During their performance, fans were excited to see them interact on stage as they recited their lyrics to one another. It was the second time the Grammy Award-winning artists performed together within two years since their split.

After their performance, Nelly reportedly threw a light jab at music producer and record executive Irv Gotti. His jab was regarding Irv's recent comments about his complicated relationship with Ashanti in the past.

A few days before the performance in Oakland, Irv, in an interview with rapper N.O.R.E, had revealed that he was in a relationship with Ashanti, only to find out through a sports game on television that she was dating Nelly.

While he did not reveal the year it happened, he was not over the fact that she dated Nelly. However, Ashanti's relationship with Nelly did not last forever, as they went their separate ways.

How Long Have Ashanti and Nelly Been Together?

In 2002, Ashanti and Nelly were at the top of their music careers and even went home with multiple awards at the Billboard Music Awards. Although the "Foolish" singer went home with two more citations than Nelly.

They officially met at the Grammy Awards the following year, where the "Hot in Herre" rapper asked for Ashanti's autograph. They reportedly started dating shortly after, even though the couple never confirmed their relationship.

In June 2008, Ashanti admitted they were good friends as they hung out a lot. She also dispelled the rumors about their engagement but stated that the future looked promising.

Less than five months later, an interviewer asked Nelly if their relationship was serious, and he said:

"I think it's always serious [...] when you can hang with a person continuously... and [ still ] have fun."

In a 2010 interview with the "Rap-Up," the rapper spoke about marriage but stated that he and Ashanti were good friends as friendship was vital and they were building their careers. He also revealed that he never wanted to get married more than once.

Why Did Ashanti and Nelly Split?

Shortly before the release of his fifth album, "Nelly 5.0," in 2010, the rapper teased that he had been dating a new girl for some months and they would get married the same day his album was released.

Four years later, Nelly and Ashanti quietly split. In March 2015, while on "The Meredith Vieira Show," the singer spoke about trust and betrayal. She said:

"I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities, it allows them to act out of character. I've been betrayed."

Fans believed her interview shared insight into why her relationship with Nelly ended. In addition, there were rumors that he owed her money, and fans wanted to know if he paid her back.

She dispelled those rumors as she sat with Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" in December 2019. She also revealed that she had not seen him since they broke up.

Are Nelly and Ashanti Dating Anyone Now?

After Nelly and Ashanti's split, the rapper went into a long-term relationship with actress Shantel Jackson. They dated for seven years before she confirmed in her post's comments section in 2021 that they had broken up but have remained friends.

While Ashanti has been rumored to have dated several celebrities, an Instagram post with a mystery man in 2021 had fans believing she was dating again. However, she quickly shut down the rumors.

As Ashanti and Nelly are currently not in a relationship, fans are hopeful their favorite couple will get back together, especially after their stage performance in August 2022.