Music

Nelly Rubs Ashanti’s Stomach Onstage After Being Encouraged to ‘Seal the Deal’ (UPDATE)

According to US Weekly, the couple is expecting months after rekindling their romance.

Prince Williams / WireImage

UPDATED 12/4/23, 2:20 p.m. ET: It looks like a baby is in Nelly and Ashanti's future.

Per US Weekly, the couple is expecting their first child together after raising speculation over the weekend.

See original story below.

On Sunday, Nelly threw the latest iteration of his Black and White Ball in St. Louis, with Ashanti as his special guest. Celebrities in attendance included Monica, Big Boss Vette and Bow Wow, but a moment that stole the show was Nelly giving his girlfriend a belly rub, implying that the two are expecting.

After Ashanti placed her hands on her midsection onstage, Nelly rubbed the singer's stomach, before she playfully smacked his hands away. The couple got cheers from the audience while producer Polow da Don encouraged Nelly and Ashanti to "seal the deal." Joke or not, the internet is talking.

Nelly has promised his Instagram followers that he'd make the Grammy Award-winner a mother after she gifted him a lavish car for his 49th birthday.

Although Ashanti's upcoming delivery will be her first child, the new baby would be Nelly's third, as he shares a daughter, Chanelle Haynes, 29, and son, Cornell Haynes III, 24, with former partner Channetta Valentine.

Having rekindled their romance this year, Ashanti and Nelly first dated in the early 2000s before splitting in 2013 (here's a full timeline of their relationship). Nelly and Ashanti are also rumored to have a new collaboration featuring Juicy J and produced by Jermaine Dupri, announced fifteen years after the release of their 2008 song "Body On Me" with Akon.

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