Ashanti has shared Nelly‘s reaction to the exciting news that they’re having a baby — but his response wasn’t what some may have expected.
The R&B singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (May 7) to share a joyful video of her revealing the news to her fiancé over a FaceTime call.
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The clip features bonus behind-the-scenes footage from Ashanti’s original pregnancy reveal video, where she playfully told her mother and manager Tina Douglas that she’s “gonna need about nine months” while preparing for a show.
Beginning six hours earlier, the video captures the “Foolish” hitmaker and her team traveling to Brooklyn for the concert, taking photos with fans and, ultimately, sharing the exciting news with Nelly.
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“We pregnant!” she tells the St. Louis rapper over the phone while he’s recording in the studio.
Rather than jumping for joy, however, Nelly stares into the camera for several moments before cracking a smile and replying: “I already knew!”
Shortly after Ashanti announced her pregnancy in April, Essence published an interview with the veteran singer in which she also confirmed her engagement to Nelly.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” she said. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”
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While the couple’s engagement had been kept under wraps, rumors had circulated for months that Ashanti was pregnant, with many believing her baggy outfits were an attempt to hide a baby bump.
Even her own mother fueled the speculation weeks before it was made official. During a public appearance on stage in March, Douglas all but confirmed the news by saying: “Well, there’s been no announcement. It hasn’t come out yet. But, you know, until I hear it from Ashanti and Nelly…”
When the host offered her apologies, Douglas replied: “No, it is public. Don’t get it twisted. But it hasn’t officially been announced. So until it is…”
Ashanti’s “What’s Luv?” collaborator Fat Joe jokingly took credit for her and Nelly baby’s after playing a pivotal role in them rekindling their romance.
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“I immediately tell them I need 10 percent of this kid because if it wasn’t for Verzuz, that I brought Nelly out [during] me against Ja Rule, that’s when they saw each other and energy connected again,” he said on Instagram Live earlier this year.
He added: “That’s when he said, ‘I gotta have her.’ He was over there contemplating; he really wanted to go over there.”
