logo
Ashanti and Nelly Almost Rekindled Their Relationship About 10 Years Ago. Why It Didn't Work Out (Exclusive)

Ashanti and Nelly Almost Rekindled Their Relationship About 10 Years Ago. Why It Didn't Work Out (Exclusive)

Yahoo12 hours ago

Peacock's new reality show, Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together, is out now
The series reveals Nelly and Ashanti nearly rekindled their relationship about a decade ago
"I don't think the timing was great back then," Ashanti tells PEOPLETiming is everything for Nelly and Ashanti.
The married couple stars in Peacock's new reality series Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together, which comes over 20 years after they started dating for the first time in 2003.
Since then, the relationship has endured ups and downs. They broke up, spent years apart, reunited in September 2023 and quietly married in December of the same year.
What fans didn't know is around a decade ago, between the first and second acts of their romance, as the series reveals, they nearly rekindled. Plus, Nelly almost proposed.
"There was just so much going on in our careers, and we didn't live in the same state," recalls Ashanti. "It wasn't meant to happen then. We had a lot of kinks to work out."
"I don't think the timing was great back then," adds the "Foolish" singer, explaining they both had some "growing and learning" to do before getting back together.
As for why their relationship works today, Nelly explains it's not about being "100% sure" it'll be successful but rather "100% willing to take the chance" on love.
"It's all a leap of faith. It's all about making yourself vulnerable in certain situations. And we're in this business where we are guarded towards certain things at certain times," says the "Hot in Herre" rapper, a father of five who shares 11-month-old son KK with Ashanti. "So it is hard to let yourself be put into a situation to where it's out of your control and you have to compromise."
Nelly continues, "Compromise is tough when you're leading businesses. She's leading the Ashanti business, I'm leading the Nelly business."
"Relationships, that s--- sometimes gets pushed to the side," he declares.
They work hard to make sure that doesn't happen. "Communication is extremely important, especially with us traveling," says Ashanti. "Sometimes, he's on the other side of the world. And sometimes, I'm on the other side of the world."
All eight episodes of Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together are streaming now on Peacock.
Read the original article on People

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Are Married! Couple Ties the Knot in Star-Studded Venice Wedding
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Are Married! Couple Ties the Knot in Star-Studded Venice Wedding

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Are Married! Couple Ties the Knot in Star-Studded Venice Wedding

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez married in a ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27, PEOPLE confirms The couple hosted a multi-day celebration in the Floating City, welcoming numerous celebrity guests including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Usher, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Brady PEOPLE confirmed that Bezos and Sánchez were engaged in May 2023, four years after news broke that they were in a relationship Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are married, PEOPLE confirms. The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 55, tied the knot in a black-tie ceremony on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on Friday, June 27. The couple celebrated their Italian nuptials over several days, welcoming a number of their celebrity friends for the lavish festivities in the Floating City, including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Leonardo DiCaprio, Usher and Tom Brady. Other notable guests included Queen Rania of Jordan, Bill Gates and his girlfriend, Paula Hurd, François-Henri Pinault, and fashion designers Diane von Fürstenberg, Domenico Dolce and Tommy Hilfiger. A source tells PEOPLE the couple's wedding ceremony kicked off with a performance of 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley, sung by Matteo Bocelli to cheers from the guests. Ahead of the ceremony, Bezos and Sánchez were photographed leaving the Aman Hotel separately, presumably headed for their wedding venue. The bride wore a retro-inspired, all-white suit and silk head scarf, while the groom sported a sleek black tuxedo and aviator-style shades. Ahead of their wedding celebrations, the bride and groom were photographed arriving in Venice via helicopter on Wednesday, June 25, smiling as they walked hand-in-hand. They later hosted a welcome party for their guests on Thursday night, June 26, at a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church. A source told PEOPLE that the party-goers dined on pizza cooked onsite by a famous Neapolitan chef, along with fried zucchini flowers, arancini, octopus and cod. Dessert included pastries and lemon cakes. The couple had planned to hold their wedding ceremony on Saturday, June 28, at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but made a last-minute location change due to security concerns amid ongoing local protests over the wedding. To show their appreciation to Venice for hosting them and their guests, Bezos and Sánchez made a point of spotlighting the city's rich artisanal history during their wedding festivities. They sourced about 80% of their provisions from Venetian vendors, among them pastry shop Rosa Salva and glass design studio Laguna B, a source told The Associated Press. In addition, the couple asked their guests to make financial donations to the city of Venice instead of giving them wedding gifts. On their wedding invitation, they listed three Venetian charities they planned to donate the contributions to: the UNESCO Venice Office, CORILA and Venice International University. They also shared on the invitation why Venice holds such a special place in their hearts. "This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories," they wrote. "Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come." "We are definitely happy to have this funding for the protection of our very delicate city," Sebastiano Costalonga, local city councillor for commerce and productive activities of the municipality of Venice, told PEOPLE ahead of the wedding. News of Bezos and Sánchez's relationship first broke in January 2019, around the same time that the Blue Origin founder announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott after 25 years of marriage. At the time, Sánchez was divorcing her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell. While it's unclear when and how Bezos and Sánchez first met, sources previously told PEOPLE that the pair struck up a working relationship while teaming up on several projects and "gradually" developed romantic feelings for each other. Sánchez later opened up about her relationship with Bezos in January 2023, telling WSJ Magazine that the pair were "together all the time." "We love to be together and we love to work together," she told the outlet, before revealing that Bezos has a side that the public doesn't get to see. "He's really funny," she shared. "He makes me laugh all the time. He can be goofy." In May 2023, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the two had gotten engaged. The news came as the couple was vacationing together in the South of France. Sánchez was photographed wearing a dazzling ring on that finger while spending time on Bezo's superyacht Koru and stepping out in town. At the time, a source told PEOPLE the newly engaged pair were "on cloud nine" and "so happy and madly in love." As for Sánchez's "huge" ring, the insider said the former Good Day LA co-host "keeps playing with it and looking at it. You can tell she loves it." When Bezos celebrated his milestone 60th birthday last year, Sánchez shared a sweet tribute to her then-fiancé on Instagram. "Today is another day where your laughter fills our home, and that smile of yours lights up every room. Wishing you an abundance of simple joys and quiet moments of happiness," she wrote. "May this year be filled with everything you love, from peaceful mornings to joyous celebrations." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She added: "I hope each day brings you countless reasons to smile, just like you give me a reason to smile every single day. Love you, and happy birthday, my love." With their Venetian wedding, Bezos and Sánchez have now officially merged their families. The billionaire mogul shares four children with his ex-wife, and Sánchez shares son Nikko, 24, with ex Tony Gonzalez, and son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17, with Whitesell. Read the original article on People

Ashanti Talks Docuseries With Nelly: 'We Got All Of Our Big Arguments Out In 2012'
Ashanti Talks Docuseries With Nelly: 'We Got All Of Our Big Arguments Out In 2012'

Refinery29

time8 hours ago

  • Refinery29

Ashanti Talks Docuseries With Nelly: 'We Got All Of Our Big Arguments Out In 2012'

We are in an era of nostalgia, and as a millennial who mainlined every movie and TV show we are now revisiting, I am not mad at it. And thanks to the current early 2000s renaissance, at this year's American Black Film Festival (ABFF), I had the opportunity to do something teen Kathleen wouldn't have even dared to dream: I interviewed Ashanti on stage in front of a room full of people who were just as in awe of her as I was. Ashanti was everything to 2000s pop and R&B — and to me. She wasn't just a voice on the radio or a hot girl on MTV (I grew up in Canada so it was MuchMusic for us), she was the moment. For millennial Black girls like me, she was soft and powerful at the same time, a woman who could sing about heartbreak one minute and independence the next, all while rocking rhinestones, low-rise jeans, and that signature baby hair with unapologetic confidence. She held her own next to Ja Rule and Fat Joe, yet her solo tracks like ' Foolish ' and ' Rain on Me ' gave us the soundtrack to first crushes, late-night MSN messenger confessions (real ones remember!), and our earliest lessons in love. While other artists chased trends, Ashanti was the sound. Her melodies, harmonies, and pen game helped define that sweet spot between hip-hop grit and R&B vulnerability. She didn't just belong to the charts; she belonged to us. So it's safe to say that getting to interview her and get a sneak peak of her reality docuseries with her husband, another 2000s icon, Nelly, was a dream come true. The duo — who broke up and got back together and now are married with a baby — have come together for the ultimate collaboration: their new docuseries, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together (which hits Peacock today, Thursday, June 26). ' I never saw myself doing a docuseries, reality TV or anything like that... But my husband [Nelly] was like, 'look, this is what I think we should do.' ashanti at abff ' The panel, titled ' The Remix: Ashanti's New Chapter of Love, Life & Legacy ', started with the teaser trailer for the show and showcased why Ashanti and Nelly decided to do a reality series now. "I never saw myself doing a docuseries, reality TV or anything like that," Ashanti told the packed crowd in Miami. "I had been asked for years to do it, to have the cameras [follow] my sisters, stuff with my family, stuff by myself and I was like, 'nah I'm good, thank you.' But my husband was like, 'look, this is what I think we should do.'" Ashanti laughed along with the audience. The conversation unpacked Ashanti's expanded role in the docuseries — as star, producer, mother, and creative force. Alongside NBCU programming executive Brittinee Royes and the show's executive producer and showrunner, Oji Singletary, Ashanti spoke about how this chapter aligns with her ongoing career evolution. She's a mom now and while she's still singing, acting, and Peacock's eight‐episode docuseries offers an intimate portrayal of Nelly and Ashanti's renewed romance. After reuniting at a 2021 Verzuz event, the couple quietly married in December 2023 and welcomed their son KK in mid‑2024. From the first episode, I couldn't help but smile seeing them together again. There's a comfort in watching two artists you grew up with find each other again, this time with more maturity and less ego. They're grown. They're flawed. And watching them navigate that — in a long-distance marriage, with a baby, and careers still unfolding — felt real in a way you don't often expect from a celebrity docuseries. And when I asked Ashanti if she was worried about showing the reality of their relationship to the world, she didn't flinch. She said she wasn't because they don't fight in the same way after their reconciliation. "Yeah, it's crazy. I think we got all of our big arguments out in, like, 2012," Ashanti said to laughter. "Those were the big, big ones and I think we kind of fizzled that out." One argument that is teased in the series is the couple's disagreement over Nelly's choice to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration ball. The series doesn't dance around the controversy, which saw Nelly face backlash for seemingly aligning himself with Trump (he defended the choice by saying it was "not political" back in January). Ashanti shouldn't have to answer for her husband's actions, but by nature of being married, his actions do reflect on her as well. The series shows Ashanti confronting Nelly about the decision and doesn't shy away from the conflict. As much as I disagree with Nelly's choice (and let's make it clear that I absolutely do), I liked that the show was candid about it, and that it showed Ashanti holding her own and standing up for herself and her reputation. Aside from that storyline, the series combines a blend of candid interviews, real‑life and tour footage, and personal anecdotes, resulting in a surprisingly candid showcase of Ashanti and Nelly's chemistry. My personal favorite moment is something extremely mundane: the couple go shopping for mattresses. Nelly can't wrap his head around the exorbitant prices and Ashanti is just giggling along as she tries to convince her man that a million-dollar price tag on a mattress is normal. "We wanted it to feel real," Ashanti said. "We want people to see the funny sides and the things that people don't see on Instagram." In moments like these, couple is portrayed as warm and genuine, with their goofy dynamic and their commitment to each other coming through loud and clear. During the panel, both Royes and Singletary chimed in about the specialness of that simple moment and shared what else in the series sets it apart from other reality TV. "It's Ashanti's first motherhood experience and then cameras are here, boom, we're shooting," Singletary said. "I'm super proud of her, I'm super proud of Nelly and I think everyone is going to appreciate it." "For me as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, I'm like there are nuances to this story that the people need to see," Royes said. "And I was so grateful that [Ashanti] was open to being honest and being vulnerable about [juggling motherhood and career]. You guys will see in the first episode and I related because I remember going back to work after having a baby. And you really struggle." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Unbothered (@r29unbothered) Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together shows the superstar's struggle with balancing her career and new baby, but it also sets a clear boundary: Ashanti's son, KK, is never shown in full in the series. His face is blurred out. On the decision to not show KK's face, Ashanti said, "There was no hesitation. I knew I was not going to show my son... I'm kind of a mama bear already, very protective. I didn't want to show my son to world yet. I haven't even posted him on Instagram or anything like that. Those moments are very sacred to me. We'll make the decision on when he's ready to pop out and show out," She said laughing. By the end of our conversation, I felt oddly emotional. And as for the series, We Belong Together isn't a love story trying to convince us everything's perfect. It's about starting over, about timing finally aligning, and about healing in the public eye. We've watched Ashanti go from mixtapes to motherhood, and right now, we're watching a new beginning. If you go to the series for nostalgia, you'll get it. If you go for authenticity, it's got that too. And during our panel at ABFF, Ashanti, Singletary and Royes reminded everyone that sometimes the greatest remix isn't a new beat — it's a whole new perspective.

Why Katy Perry's Not Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding
Why Katy Perry's Not Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding

Buzz Feed

time8 hours ago

  • Buzz Feed

Why Katy Perry's Not Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding

Katy Perry will not be attending the star-studded wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice, Italy. Earlier this week, the news broke that Katy and her fiancé Orlando Bloom have split. Katy and Orlando announced their engagement in 2019, three years after they started dating. Together, they share a 4-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom. For a few weeks, amid rumors of their relationship status, sources have reported several factors that seemingly contributed to their split. Sources claimed "tension" arose following the negative reception of Katy's seventh studio album, 143. A source also claimed to Entertainment Tonight that Orlando was at his "breaking point." Another source claimed that they "don't really see them being able to turn things around," and Katy's directing her focus on The Lifetimes Tour. The source added, "It's been breaking down the last couple of months and isn't looking good." And this leads to why Katy won't be at the Bezos-Sánchez wedding this weekend. When People confirmed that Katy and Orlando had officially called it quits, and The Lord of the Rings actor arrived in Italy on June 26 alone, speculation arose that the "Firework" singer's absence was due to their relationship. A source confirmed to People that "She was never going to the wedding." Katy will be performing back-to-back shows in Adelaide, Australia, on June 26, 27, 29, and 30, which is the time for the nuptials. Katy did join Lauren for her bachelorette party in Paris in May alongside celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Eva Longoria. According to the publication, they had dinner at Lafayette's and a river cruise around the city the next day. If you remember, Katy was also part of the six-person all-female crew with Lauren on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin space flight back in April. So, it's reasonable to expect that Katy would definitely be at Lauren's wedding, but that's not the case. As noted in a previous story, BuzzFeed has contacted Katy's reps for comment, and we'll let you know if we learn more.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store