Ashanti Is PREGNANT and ENGAGED to Nelly _ E! News
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00:00 Ashanti reveals she's pregnant and expecting her first child with Nelly.
00:05 The singer and the rapper share the news with Essence and Ashanti says she's overjoyed,
00:10 also because she and Nelly are now engaged.
00:13 She tells the outlet, "This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope
00:17 and anticipation.
00:19 Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to and sharing this with my family,
00:23 fiancé and loyal fans who have been so supportive of my career is an amazing experience."
00:29 The couple also tell Essence that they're co-owners of Prove, along with founder Amy
00:34 Beckley PhD, a diagnostics company that offers at-home tests that help individuals looking
00:39 to conceive make it happen faster and in a way that doesn't leave a large dent in their
00:44 pockets.
00:45 Ashanti highlights Prove in a video announcement as well, revealing her pregnancy.
00:49 "Go time.
00:50 Nine.
00:51 Come on there, ready.
00:52 Nine, how much time you need?"
00:53 "I need about nine months."
01:01 This marks the singer's first child and Nelly's fifth.
01:04 He has a biological daughter and son, Chanel and Cornell Jr.
01:08 The rapper also adopted Sean and Sydney Thomas, the two children of his sister Jackie Donahue
01:13 after she died of leukemia in 2005.
01:16 Ashanti and Nelly had dated on and off for almost 10 years until they broke up around
01:21 a decade ago.
01:22 In April 2023, they sparked rumors of a reconciliation when they were spotted together in Las Vegas
01:28 and were seen together a few more times at events over the next few months.
01:32 They later performed their 2008 track "Body on Me" together at one of Ashanti's shows.
01:37 In September, Ashanti made their rekindled romance pseudo-red carpet official.
01:41 While she arrived at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards without the rapper, she carried a clutch
01:46 bearing a photo of the two at the same event two decades prior.
01:50 "You look better than you've ever looked before all that time."
01:53 "Thank you so, so much.
01:55 I appreciate it."
01:56 "We're going to talk about the bag.
01:57 Can you show everybody the bag?"
01:58 "Stop.
01:59 Stop."
02:00 "I mean, I just thought it was cute.
02:01 Not a huge deal, but this was the picture we took 20 years ago at the VMAs in '03.
02:07 So I said, 'Ah, this might be cute.'"
02:10 "And then here he is opening the show."
02:12 "Mm-hmm."
02:13 "You guys are back together?
02:14 Are we talking?
02:15 I mean, you're wearing them on your back.
02:16 I'm like, 'Wait a second.'
02:17 Is that...?"
02:20 "I mean, yeah."
02:23 They went Instagram official the following month.
02:26 Congratulations to the growing family.
02:28 "Thank you."
02:32 "Thank you."
02:33 "Thank you."
02:33 (upbeat music)
02:36 (dramatic music)