Even though Ashanti and Nelly have only been married for a short time, they’re already dealing with a lot of drama. Right now, they’re the “it” couple in Hollywood, and everyone is calling them “couple goals.” But it looks like Nelly’s ex, Shantel, isn’t happy about their marriage. She recently accused Nelly of being a serial cheater who doesn’t deserve Ashanti. Ashanti quickly fired back, defending her husband and calling Shantel a liar trying to break up their marriage.
So, what’s really going on here? Is Ashanti defending Nelly to protect their relationship, or is Shantel just a bitter ex making up stories because she’s upset about losing Nelly? This situation is getting pretty messy, and everyone seems to have an opinion.
It’s easy to see why Shantel might be feeling upset about Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship. She probably thought she would be the one marrying Nelly, not Ashanti, especially after Nelly and Ashanti had such a tumultuous breakup. For those who don’t know, Nelly and Ashanti first met in 2003 at the Grammy Award nomination announcements. Nelly made a smooth move by asking for her autograph instead of her number, which impressed Ashanti. They started dating shortly after, but tried to keep their relationship private. Of course, fans quickly caught on that there was something going on between them.
Ashanti kept saying they were just friends, and in 2008 she told People magazine, “Me and Nelly, we’re friends. We kick it, hang out a lot. The industry is very hard, so it’s good to have fun and lighten it up.” Nelly also insisted there was nothing romantic between them, explaining, “What people don’t understand is that I think you really have to be friends first. That’s the thing. It’s not about how long it takes; there’s no time limit on this. I’m not a person who wants to be married more than once. I’m not a person who wants to be in a relationship more than once. You’re dying if you leave me.”
Then rumors of a breakup started swirling, and it wasn’t pretty. They officially ended things in 2013, with whispers of infidelity on both sides. Sources close to Nelly claimed Ashanti had cheated on him with multiple men. For years, Nelly had heard rumors about Ashanti’s infidelities but chose not to believe them. Among industry insiders, it was well-known that Irv Gotti had been involved with Ashanti. Despite rumors suggesting she had been with rappers like Jay-Z and Nas, and lesser-known producers like Santana, Nelly chose to ignore them. There were even allegations that Ashanti found out Nelly was involved with Keyshia Cole, sparking a feud between Ashanti and Keyshia.
The allegations flew thick and fast, though the truth remained uncertain. Ashanti also hinted at Nelly’s infidelity in her song “Never Should Have,” where she sang, “You were all that I wanted. I fell in love with all of your heart and your soul from that moment. Couldn’t imagine you ever hurting me or mistreating your love. I should have known. Rivers of teardrops, these sharp pains in my heart. If this was the way that you loved me, you never should have loved me.”
She finally opened up about the relationship in 2015, saying, “I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities, it allows them to act out of character. I’ve been betrayed. You just have to grow. You have to grow up. You have to accept responsibility for the things that you do. I’m not a big fan of people being cowards.” It seems she held onto that grudge because, in 2018, she took a shot at Nelly during a concert. While on stage, she said, “I’ve been betrayed before, publicly at that.” When someone in the crowd shouted, “Screw Nelly,” she responded, “Word. See, I just want to make sure y’all really understand exactly what I’m saying because I’ve been betrayed before, publicly, Nelly.”
With all that history, who would have thought they’d not only be back together but also married with a baby on the way? Especially since Nelly seemed to have moved on with Shantel, the same woman accused of shading Ashanti. Shantel was once Nelly’s ride-or-die. When they were dating, he cheated on her constantly, and she stuck by him even when multiple women accused him of inappropriate behavior. Shantel always jumped to defend him. She accused the women of lying, saying, “Those dates these Jane Does are claiming, I was at those venues, in the dressing rooms, and on that tour bus. There are women dealing with real issues, and for the first time, people are listening, and there is a chance for real change. But all of this work is discredited and makes things harder for survivors when people lie.”
Nelly also claimed that he wanted Shantel to be with him forever, saying, “I would not want my life to not have Shantel in it. We’ve been seeing each other for five or six years. Anytime you can connect with somebody like that, it works out for the long run. She’s sweet, beautiful, and the more we got to know each other, she’s just as beautiful inside.” He even said that they were heading towards an engagement, but that never happened. Things got rocky, and Shantel asked for a break. Nelly probably saw it as his cue to bounce, so he ended things for good. Not long after, he and Ashanti rekindled their romance. Seriously, nobody even saw it coming, not even Ashanti herself.
Why did you feel like this wasn’t the person or the path for you? I guess, when you go through a breakup, it’s easy to shut that person out. For me, it’s like, okay, that chapter is closed, and you just move on. There’s nothing left to hold on to. When Fat Joe and Ja Rule set up the Verzuz stage reunion, they didn’t tell Ashanti because they knew she’d back out if she knew Nelly was going to be there. When they met on stage, hugged, and sparks flew again.
Fast forward to November 2022, and Ashanti and Nelly surprised everyone by reuniting on stage to perform “Body on Me” at Power 98.3 and 96.1’s Under the Mistletoe concert in Arizona. Their chemistry was undeniable, suggesting they still had that spark and giving off serious soulmate vibes. Soon after, rumors of their reconciliation spread, and they were spotted holding hands after the Gervonta Davis versus Ryan Garcia boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. They made a grand comeback as a couple, dazzling on the red carpet at the third annual Birthday Ball for Quality Control CEO Pierre P. Thomas at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Since then, it has been smooth sailing. They finally got their fairy tale ending when Ashanti announced their engagement in April 2023. Nelly popped the question during an intimate moment while Ashanti was still lounging in her PJs at home. Shortly after, Ashanti announced she was pregnant, to the joy of her fans. She had always spoken about wanting to be a mom, saying, “Motherhood is something that I’ve always looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fans, and loyal supporters who have been supportive of my career is an amazing experience.”
If that wasn’t enough drama, it was later revealed that they had secretly tied the knot, and everything seemed picture-perfect between them. Except for one little hitch: Shantel, seemingly caught up in her feelings, has been taking petty shots at Nelly and Ashanti. During a recent Instagram Q&A session, a fan asked her thoughts on getting back with an ex, and Shantel didn’t hold back, throwing shade by declaring she doesn’t go backward.
“Am I single? Yes, I’m single and ready to mingle. My nationality? I am American Indian, Black, and White. What advice do I have for someone who went back to a person they really loved? If it works for you, go for it. Personally, I don’t go back. I don’t go backward.”
Remember the time Nelly posted a picture of Ashanti sitting on his lap and wrote, “Of course not, beautiful. I’m fine. Love you too”? Ashanti reposted that picture with the caption, “Babe, I’mma knock you out.” People thought they were adorable together.
Then Shantel posted a video. According to an insider, Shantel is now saying that she and Nelly were still together when he started dating Ashanti again. She claims Nelly secretly started seeing Ashanti before she even asked for a break from him. Shantel is accusing Ashanti and Nelly of cheating, but Ashanti isn’t having it. Sources say Ashanti is furious over Shantel’s claims and is mocking her for being a salty, bitter ex. According to insiders, Ashanti denies the cheating claims, saying Shantel is just jealous because Nelly married Ashanti instead of her. Shantel spent seven years hoping Nelly would marry her, but he didn’t, and now she’s trying to break Ashanti and Nelly up out of sheer jealousy.
Fans are all over this drama, with comments like, “I know Shantel must be feeling some type of way. She really seemed to love him and had high hopes for their relationship, only to find out Nelly was still in love with Ashanti all those years.” Another said, “This Nelly, Ashanti, Shantel situation is a perfect example of how a man can be with you for years, even when you’re not who he really wants to be with. It’s a scary world out here.” And someone else added, “I’m so happy for Nelly and Ashanti, but my heart breaks for Shantel. I hope she heals.”
This love triangle is definitely messy. So, what do you think? Are you Team Ashanti and Nelly or Team Shantel and Nelly? Share your thoughts in the comments below