In a heartwarming gesture, Nelly found time amidst his busy tour schedule to surprise his partner, Ashanti, with a baby shower. The event took place at Dolce & Gabbana’s children’s boutique in New York City, creating a magical moment for the couple as they await the arrival of their first child.
Ashanti’s Baby Shower
Guests captured the surprise on video, showing Ashanti walking into the room with Nelly right behind her. The crowd erupted with cheers of “Surprise!” as Ashanti, visibly shocked, covered her mouth and smiled. She wore a stunning yellow and white outfit, showcasing her baby bump, while Nelly opted for a sleek all-black ensemble.
“I thought I was coming to a photoshoot,” Ashanti said, recounting the moment. “I’m in shock! I was like, ‘wait, where’s the hairstylist?’ We did a whole fitting last night!”
Celebrating With Loved Ones
The celebration was attended by close friends and family, including Simone Smith, Lloyd, and Fat Joe. Lloyd humorously commented, “You were late to your own baby shower, so let’s hope the baby comes on time.”
During the event, Nelly shared the love story between him and Ashanti, recalling how they rekindled their romance at Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s VERZUZ event in September 2021. He revealed, “I didn’t want to make [Ashanti] uncomfortable. I felt like there was tension in the building. I said, ‘let me break the ice.’”
Ashanti’s father spoke warmly about Nelly’s respectfulness, sharing, “We had a little discussion about him wanting to marry her. For me, it’s very special for a man in this era to ask for someone’s hand in marriage, especially your daughter. I was very impressed with the fact that he asked me.”
Looking Forward to Parenthood
Although the couple has kept the gender and name of their baby private, Ashanti expressed her excitement to Entertainment Tonight, saying, “I’m really looking forward to having an extension of both of us, be with us, and watching that spirit grow. It’s an amazing thing.”
As the party wrapped up, Nelly thanked everyone involved and shared a heartfelt sentiment: “Nothing else matters as long as [Ashanti’s] smiling and happy.”