Are Ashanti & Nelly Back Together? 2000s Hip-Hop Power Couple Fuel Intense Romance Rumors

Rapper Nelly and Singer Ashanti are rumored to have rekindled their romance 20 years after they first got together. The former hip-hop couple was spotted at a boxing match in Las Vegas over the weekend looking cozy, and as they exited the venue, they were holding hands.

The pair first got together in 2003 and had an on-and-off relationship before going their separate ways in 2013. However, their recent appearances have sent fans into a frenzy, with many people hoping they get back together.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Nelly and Ashanti, once considered the power couple of 2000s hip-hop, were recently spotted holding hands at a boxing match in Las Vegas over the weekend, sparking rumors that the former flames have reignited their romance two decades after they first got together.

According to Insider, the hip-hop royalties sat ringside together to watch the Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight at the T-Mobile Arena. They were spotted holding hands as they exited the venue, leaving fans to reminisce about the good old days when they were the most sought-after couple in the music industry.

The following day, the famous duo took to the stage and performed in front of a packed crowd at the TAO Beach Dayclub. The group went wild as they sang their hit song 2008, "Body On Me." During their performance, Ashanti was seen dancing on Nelly, adding more fuel to the speculations of their rekindled romance.

Nelly, 48, and Ashanti, 42, had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship spanned over a decade. They first got together in 2003 after an instant connection at a press conference for the 45th Annual Grammy Awards earlier that year. Despite some ups and downs, the couple stayed together for almost a decade before finally calling it quits in 2013.

For years, the award-winning artists went their separate ways; however, fate brought them back together in 2021 when they both appeared in the highly-anticipated Verzuz battle between rappers Ja Rule and Fat Joe.

Rumors of their rekindled romance started circulating after they performed together in Las Vegas in December of the same year. These rumors gained momentum in February when Ashanti was spotted wearing what seemed to be Nelly's distinctive Cuban link chain tucked underneath two silver chains draped atop her outfit. Their recent activities in Vegas have only further fueled the rumors.

In a recent post by The Shade Room, showing Nelly and Ashanti sitting together on Saturday night, many fans showed their support and hope for a happily ever after for the former couple.

In the comments, influencer Aldren McCullar wrote, "Idc what anybody says, I LOVE them together!!" Digital creator Erika Ortega also said, "This makes me happy. 90s babies are all on their feelings about this."

Adding to the buzz, rapper and actor Bow Wow weighed in, urging Nelly to take the next step and propose to Ashanti. "Yo, mo! I know we do not see eye to eye either, but from lil bro to big bro, STOP PLAYING AND MARRY THIS WOMAN BRO!" he wrote. "You like 50, sit your ass down; this your queen."

In 2015, Ashanti opened up about the end of her relationship with Nelly during an appearance on "The Meredith Vieira Show." The "Only U" singer explained that she was "betrayed" by the rapper. "I sometimes think when people have insecurities, it allows them to act out of character. I've been betrayed. Again, you have to grow; you have to grow up and accept responsibilities for what you do," she stated, per Us Weekly.

"I am not a fan of people being cowards. But I am now in a different place," Ashanti added.

The singer referenced the betrayal during a concert three years later, saying, "I've been betrayed before. Publicly at that." To her remark, a fan in the crowd yelled, "F*ck Nelly!" and Ashanti pointed at them and just said, "Word."

During a 2019 interview on "Watch What Happens to Live with Andy Cohen," Ashanti revealed that she and Nelly had not been in contact since their split in 2013.