Ashanti confirmed off an additional particular accent at Tuesday’s  2023 MTV Video Music Awards: A handbag that includes her newly-rekindled romance, Nelly. 

Although Ashanti, 42, walked the pink carpet alone, she made positive to deliver part of her relationship along with her each step of the best way. Her purse, which she paired with a glossy and shimmering robe, confirmed off a photograph of her and Nelly, 48, on the VMAs precisely 20 years earlier. 

“I simply thought that his was cool as a result of this image was taken 20 years in the past on the VMAs in 2003,” Ashanti advised ET’s Rachel Smith. “We had been in an important place,” the rapper added of her reminiscence from the outdated photograph. 

Ashanti is nominated for Finest Collaboration for her work with Diddy on “Gotta Transfer On,” which she advised ET was an “wonderful” alternative. 

“I simply really feel like there was a lot happening, even with me personally,” she stated, “it got here from the guts, the whole lot I used to be writing and going via. I received the chance from Puff, you understand, to type of specific myself artistically and it was wonderful. I had a lot enjoyable.” 

Ashanti added that for Diddy, “it is at all times a sure” in the case of collaborations. 

As for her private life, the rapper not too long ago confirmed that she and Nelly rekindled their romance throughout an episode of Boss Moves with Rasheeda, hosted by Love and Hip Hop‘s Rasheeda Frost. 

The couple initially started relationship in 2003, having an on-again, off-again romance earlier than formally calling it quits in 2013. In a preview of his Boss Strikes with Rasheeda interview shared by The Shade Room, Nelly coyly confesses that he and Ashanti are “cool once more.”

“I feel it stunned each of us although. It wasn’t something that I do not assume was deliberate,” he provides.

Going into a bit extra element, Nelly shared that he believes time aside performed a task of their rekindled relationship.

“I feel we each had been just about doing what we do, however typically being separate you perceive each other extra,” he says. “You be like, ‘Yo, let me see precisely what they see.’ , as a result of all of us might be defensive typically in our personal relationships. We all know we fallacious however we going to face on it. However all of us a sufferer to that.” 

When requested if his relationship with Ashanti “feels good now,” Nelly admits it does.

“Yeah,” he says. “I imply, as a result of it is no stress. Earlier than I felt like each of us had been doing what we had been doing earlier than career-wise, and while you received so many individuals in the midst of it, it may be robust.”

Followers started to query the standing of the pair’s relationship in December 2022, after Ashanti appeared onstage with the “Nation Grammar” rapper on the Energy 98.three and 96.1’s “Beneath the Mistletoe” live performance in Arizona.

Following the efficiency, Ashanti appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the place she was requested about her response to followers wanting her to get again with the rapper.

“My response was ‘wow,'” she advised host Andy Cohen. “It was a whole lot of feedback and lots of people wanting that.” Nonetheless, she performed coy when pressed on whether or not or not the 2 had been exploring the opportunity of getting again collectively.

In February, ET spoke with Nelly on the GRAMMYs, the place he shared that point had healed their previous wounds.

“Time does wonders for lots of various issues,” he advised ET. “And time is one these issues that permits you time to replicate on what’s what, and also you get an opportunity to see issues in a unique gentle and see your faults. So I feel we each did that and it is cool that we simply pals.”

Then in April, they had been noticed collectively a number of occasions in Las Vegas. First they had been seen holding hands as they walked via T-Cell Enviornment throughout the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia battle. After which, in one other video posted to social media, the duo was captured performing their hit “Physique on Me,” throughout a pool social gathering.

A month later, a source told ET, “Nelly and Ashanti are again collectively and each of them are very joyful.”

In June, the couple was noticed collectively on the third Annual Birthday Ball for High quality Management CEO Pierre “P” Thomas. The occasion was their first crimson carpet look collectively since 2012. 

After the pair attended Usher’s Las Vegas residency and sang along to Usher’s “Nice & Slow” in a video posted to Nelly’s Instagram, ET discovered the 2 weren’t placing labels on their relationship and had been simply having fun with their time collectively.

It appears issues are a bit extra outlined between the pair now.

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards is coming to you reside from the Prudential Heart in Newark, New Jersey, at eight p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Observe alongside at ETonline.com for full protection from this yr’s VMAs, together with the entire listing of the nominees and the night’s big winners.

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